Question

What if m1 is initially moving at 3.4 m/s while m2 is initially at rest? (a) find the maximum spring compression in this case?

Answer 1

Ans : Initial E = KE = ½mv² = ½ * 1.2kg * (2.2m/s)² = 2.9 J max spring compression where both velocities are the same: conserve momentum: 1.2kg * 2.2m/s = (1.2 + 3.2)kg * v → v = 0.6 m/s which means the combined KE = ½ * (1.2 + 3.2)kg * (0.6m/s)² = 0.79 J The remaining energy went into the spring: U = (2.9 - 0.79) J = 2.1 J = ½kx² = ½ * 554N/m * x² x = 0.0076 m ↠(a)