Question

A mass of 3.6 kg oscillate on a horizontal spring with a spring constant of 160 N/m.

Answer 1

Answer:

48.7 J

Explanation:

For a mass-spring system, there is a continuous conversion of energy between elastic potential energy and kinetic energy.

In particular:

- The elastic potential energy is maximum when the system is at its maximum displacement

- The kinetic energy is maximum when the system passes through the equilibrium position

Therefore, the maximum kinetic energy of the system is given by:

$KE=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$

where

m is the mass

v is the speed at equilibrium position

In this problem:

m = 3.6 kg

v = 5.2 m/s

Therefore, the maximum kinetic energy is:

$KE=\frac{1}{2}(3.6)(5.2)^2=48.7 J$