Question

An 7.61 kg block drops straight down from a height of 1.01 m, striking a platform spring having a force constant of 1.05 x103 N/m. Find the maximum compression of the spring.

Answer 1

The initial energy of the system when the block is at the height of 1.01 m is

E; = mgh = 7.61 x 9.8 x 1.01 = 75.32378 J

The energy of the system when the spring compresses at its maximum value

Es = -kir? = x 1.05 x 103 x 2? = 525.22

The conservation of energy gives us

E = E

一525.2 = 75.32378

75.32378 -= 0.379 m x= V 525

So, the maximum compression in the spring is 0.379 m.