Question

You place the spring vertically with one end on the floor. You then lay a 1.60-kgkg book on top of the spring and release the book from rest. Find the maximum distance the spring will be compressed.

Answer 1

Answer:

3.92 cm

Explanation:

Assuming spring cinstant of 800 N/m, we know that the potential energy is transformed to kinetic energy in spring hence

$mgx=0.5kx^{2}$ where m is the mass of the block, g is acceleration due to gravity, x is the extent of compression of the spring and k is spring constant. Making x the subject of the above formula then $x=\frac {2mg}{k}$

Substituting 1.6 kg for m, 9.81 for g and 800 N/m for k then

$x=\frac {2*1.6*9.81}{800}=0.03924m\approx 3.92cm$