How Far Will the Spring Compress in a Frictionless Collision?

In summary, a 2 kg block with a speed of 1.4 m/s collides with a massless spring of spring constant 94 N/m attached to a wall. Using the equations (1/2)kx^2=(1/2)mv^2 and x= sqrt((mv^2)/(k)), the compression of the spring is found to be 0.20421 m. Converting to units of cm, the answer is 20.421 cm.
  • #1
Joshua Lee
10
0

Homework Statement


A 2 kg block collides with a massless spring of spring constant 94 N/m attached to a wall. The speed of the block was observed to be 1.4 m/s at the moment of collision. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2 . How far does the spring compress if the surface on which the mass moves is frictionless? Answer in units of cm.

Homework Equations


(1/2)kx^2
(1/2)mv^2

The Attempt at a Solution


(1/2)kx^2=(1/2)mv^2
Solved for x
x= sqrt((mv^2)/(k))
Plugged in values and I got 0.20421
Apparently not right though[/B]
 
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  • #2
Joshua Lee said:
Answer in units of cm.
 
  • #3
Facepalming so hard right now. Thanks!
 
  • #4
No need to feel bad...happens to all of us.

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FAQ: How Far Will the Spring Compress in a Frictionless Collision?

1. What is the "Spring Collision Problem"?

The "Spring Collision Problem" is a physics problem that involves calculating the motion of two objects connected by a spring when they collide with each other.

2. How is the "Spring Collision Problem" solved?

The "Spring Collision Problem" is solved using the laws of conservation of energy and momentum. The equations for these laws are used to determine the velocities of the objects before and after the collision.

3. What are the variables involved in the "Spring Collision Problem"?

The variables involved in the "Spring Collision Problem" include the masses of the two objects, the spring constant of the spring, the initial velocities of the objects, and the distance between the objects at the time of collision.

4. Can the "Spring Collision Problem" be solved for any type of objects?

Yes, the "Spring Collision Problem" can be solved for any type of objects as long as the laws of conservation of energy and momentum apply.

5. What are some real-world applications of the "Spring Collision Problem"?

The "Spring Collision Problem" has many real-world applications, such as in car crashes, sports equipment, and even in the design of shock absorbers. It is also used in the study of collisions in particle physics.

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