Question

A block of mass m = 850 g is released from rest and slides down a frictionless track of height 32.7 cm. At the bottom of the track, the block slides freely along a horizontal plane until it hits a spring with a constant of k = 50 N/m. What is the maximum compression of the spring that occurs?

Answer 1

Here ,

let the maximum compression in the spring is x

Using conservation of energy

loss in potential energy of block = spring energy

0.850 * 9.8 * 0.327 = 0.50 * 50 * x^2

solving for x

x = 0.33 m

the maximum compression in the spring is 0.33 m