A spring with a constant of 3kgs2 is lying on the ground with one end attached to a wall. An object with a mass of 3kg and speed of 9ms collides with and compresses the spring until it stops moving. How much will the spring compress?

1 Answer
Sep 6, 2017

The compression is =9m

Explanation:

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The spring constant is k=1kgs2

The kinetic energy of the object is

KE=12mu2

The mass is m=3kg

The speed is u=9ms1

KE=123(9)2=2432J

This kinetic energy will be stored in the spring as potential energy.

PE=2432J

The spring constant is =3kgs2

So,

12kx2=2432

x2=2433=81m2

x=81=9m