A block of mass 2.0 kg is moving on a frictionless horizontal surface with a velocity of 1.0 m/s (figure 9-E12) towards another block of equal mass kept at rest. The spring constant of the spring fixed at one end is 100 N/m. Find the maximum compression of the spring.
Mass of each block M1 and M2 is 2 kg,
Velocity of the first block v1= 1 m/s,
Velocity of the second block v2= 0 m/s,
Spring constant of the spring is 100 N/m.
Then, block first strikes spring with velocity 1 m/s
After collision velocity starts to decrease continuously and at instant whole system i.e., block 1 and block 2 starts moving together with common velocity.
Let the velocity be v
Using law of conservation energy
______ (1)
As there is no external force in horizontal direction, the momentum should be conserved.
___________ (2)
Putting in equation (1)
So, the maximum compression of the spring will be 10 cm.