A small block of mass 100 g is pressed against a horizontal spring fixed at one end to compress the spring through 5.0 cm (figure 8-E11). The spring constant is 100 N/m. When released, the block moves horizontally till it leaves the spring. Where will it hit the ground 2 m below the spring?
It will hit the ground at 1cm
Given
The block of mass 100g is given compressing the spring of about 5 cm. The spring constant is given as 100N/m. The height of the spring is 2 cm.
Formula Used
Using the conversation of energy, we equate the energies of spring compression and potential energy of the mass of the block, the formula of the energy stored in spring compression is
And the energy stored in the block is formulated as
where
The value of spring constant is denoted as “k”, the compression distance is “x”, the mass of the block is given as “m”, v is the velocity of the block.
Explanation
The stored spring compression energy is calculated as
After the expansion of the spring, the compression energy turns into kinetic energy.
Now applying the formula of kinematic to calculate the time taken for the block to touch the ground
Hence, the horizontal distance covered by the block is
