Question

A 63 gg ice cube can slide without friction up and down a 30∘30∘ slope. The ice cube is pressed against a spring at the bottom of the slope, compressing the spring 10 cm. The spring constant is 30 N/mN/m . When the ice cube is released, what total distance will it travel up the slope before reversing direction?

Answer 1

Given Information:

slope angle = θ = 30°

spring constant = k = 30 N/m

compressed length = x = 10 cm = 0.10 m

mass of ice cube = m = 63 g = 0.063 kg

Required Information:

distance traveled by ice cube = d = ?  

Answer:

distance traveled by ice cube = 0.48 m

Explanation:

Using the the principle of conversation of energy, the following relation holds true for this case,

mgh = 1/2*kx²

h = 1/2*kx²/mg

Where h is the height of the slope, m is the mass of ice cube, k is the spring constant and x is the compressed length o the spring and g is gravitational acceleration.

h = 1/2*kx²/mg

h = 1/2*30(0.1)²/0.063*9.8

h = 0.242 m

From trigonometry ratio,

sinθ = h/d

d = h/sinθ

d = 0.242/sin(30)

d = 0.48 m

Therefore, when the ice cube is released, it will travel a total distance 0.48 up the slope before reversing direction.