A block is attached to an ideal spring. The spring is laid out horizontally along the x-axis, and the block is on a frictionless
surface. When the block is at x = 0, the spring is at its natural length. The block is given an initial kinetic energy of 9.00 J, when the block is at x = 0, with the initial velocity directed in the positive x-direction. That kinetic energy is enough to cause the block to move out to x = +d before reversing direction. How much kinetic energy would the block have to have at x = 0 for the reversal of direction to occur at x = +2d, instead of x = +d? _______ J
In this exercise we must use the conservation of mechanical energy at two points at initial x = 0 and the end point of maximum compression of the spring
Initial x = 0
Em₀ = K = ½ m v²
Final point of maximum compression
= Ke = ½ k x²
Em₀ =
K = ½ k x²
We put the kinetic energy because it is a data, let's look for the spring constant
k = 2 K / x²
k = 2 9 / d²
k = 18 / d²
Let's calculate the kinetic energy, so that the compression is x = 2d
