Question

A horizontal spring with a spring constant of 190 N/cm is compressed 6.3 cm. A wooden block with a mass of 1.5 kg is placed in front of and in contact with the spring. When the spring is released it pushes the block, which slides on a frictionless horizontal surface for some distance. The block then slides up a frictionless incline of 27 above the horizontal and comes to a momentary stop before sliding back down. The system is the spring, the block, the incline, and the Earth. Ignore air resistance.

A) Sketch the situation and label all variables for: i. the spring and block before the spring is released ii. the block sliding on the horizontal surface iii. the block sliding up the incline

B) List all known quantities.

C) Draw the free body diagram for the block sliding up the incline.

D) What is the potential energy of the spring before it is released?

E) What is the kinetic energy and the speed of the block as it slides on the horizontal surface after the spring has pushed it?

F) At what height does the block stop on the incline?

G) If the incline were rough, how would the stopping height of the block compare to the stopping height when the incline is frictionless? Explain using energy.

Answer 1