Question

A block of mass 0.260 kg is placed on top of a light, vertical spring of force constant 5 200 N/m and pushed downward so that the spring is compressed by 0.090 m. After the block is released from rest, it travels upward and then leaves the spring. To what maximum height above the point of release does it rise

Answer 1

After being released, the restoring force exerted by the spring performs

1/2 (5200 N/m) (0.090 m)² = 12.06 J

of work on the block. At the same time, the block's weight performs

- (0.260 kg) g (0.090 m) ≈ -0.229 J

of work. Then the total work done on the block is about

W ≈ 11.83 J

The block accelerates to a speed v such that, by the work-energy theorem,

W = ∆K   ==>   11.83 J = 1/2 (0.260 kg) v ²   ==>   v ≈ 9.54 m/s

Past the equilibrium point, the spring no longer exerts a force on the block, and the only force acting on it is due to its weight, hence it has a downward acceleration of magnitude g. At its highest point, the block has zero velocity, so that

0² - v ² = -2gy

where y is the maximum height. Solving for y gives

y = v ²/(2g) ≈ 4.64 m