Question

A 10.0 g bullet is fired into a 1.0 kg block initially at rest on a rough surface and connected to a spring with k = 200N/m. Immediately following the collision the block has a speed of 2.0 m/s. The coefficient of friction between the ground and the block is 0.10.

a) If the ground were frictionless, how far would the block travel before reaching its maximum compression point?

b) The friction between the ground and block cause the block to reach its maximum compression 0.04m before it would on a frictionless surface. What is the mechanical energy of the block-spring system when it has reached this maximum compression point?

c) What is the maximum velocity reached by the block as it returns to its equilibrium point following compress?