Question

A Red Rider bb gun uses the energy in a compressed spring to provide the kinetic energy for propelling a small pellet of mass 0.27 grams. By cocking the lever attached to the stock of the rifle, the spring (k = 1800 N/m) is compressed 8.5 cm from its equilibrium point.
Required:
a. What is the potential energy energy stored in the compressed spring?
b. What is the kinetic energy of the pellet when the spring is released?

Answer 1

Answer:

a.6.5025 J

b.6.5025 J

Explanation:

We are given that

Mass of pellet,m=0.27 g=$0.27\times 10^{-3} kg$

1 kg=1000 g

Spring constant,k=1800 N/m

x=8.5 cm=$8.5\times 10^{-2} m$

1m=100 cm

a.Potential energy stored in the compressed spring  is given by

P.E=$\frac{1}{2}kx^2$

$P.E=\frac{1}{2}(1800)(8.5\times 10^{-2})^2$

$P.E=6.5025 J$

b.By using law of conservation of energy

P.E of spring=K.E of the pellet

K.E of the pellet=6.5025 J