Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
A more complicated energy problem
Just as before,
an ideal spring of rest length L = 2 m and spring
constant k = 120 N/m is placed on a ramp of angle
theta = 20 degrees.
This time, however, the ramp is not frictionless;
instead, it has coefficient of kinetic friction
muk = 0.07 .
You then gently place a block of mass m = 1.5 kg
onto the ramp and glue it onto the end of the spring.
You push the block down until it compresses
the spring by a distance x = 0.2000 m.
You can feel the spring pushing back up against the block, so you
have to hold the block in place.
- At this moment, what is the total energy of the spring-and-block
system? State clearly your choice of zero for all potential
energies.
You now release the block, and it starts to slide up the ramp.
- What is the speed of the block when the spring returns
to its rest length?
- As the block continues to slide up the ramp, it pulls
the spring with it; the spring is now stretched beyond
its rest length. What is the speed of the block
when it reaches a distance x2 = 0.0412 m
beyond the spring's rest length?
- How far beyond its rest length will the spring stretch
until the block comes to a momentary halt (and then slides back down)?
Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.