A spring with a constant of 5 (kg)/s^2 is lying on the ground with one end attached to a wall. An object with a mass of 6 kg and speed of 12 m/s collides with and compresses the spring until it stops moving. How much will the spring compress?

1 Answer
Apr 22, 2016

12m

Explanation:

We can use conservation of energy.

Initially;

Kinetic energy of the mass : 1/2mv^2 = 1/2 *6*12^2 J

Finally:

Kinetic energy of the mass : 0

Potential energy : 1/2kx^2 = 1/2 *(5 (kg)/s^2) x^2

equating, we get :

1/2 *6*12^2 J= 1/2 *(5 (kg)/s^2) x^2 => x~~12m

*I would be so happy if k and m were the same.