A 0.150 kg block moving vertically upward collides with a light vertical spring and compresses it 4.50cm before coming to rest.

Question

If the spring constant is 54.0 N/m, what was the initial speed of the block? (Ignore energy losses to sound and other factors during the collision.)

Answer 1

Thanks for including the dimensions (kg, etc) of the physical quantities this time.

When the spring is fully compressed, the initial kinetic energy (1/2)MV^2 is converted to gravitational energy MgY and spring potential energy (1/2)kY

Y is the vertical distance the spring is compressed (0.045 m)
g is the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s^2)
M is the 0.150 kg mass
k is the 54.0 N/m spring constant

(1/2)MV^2 = MgY + (1/2)kY^2

V^2 = 2gY + (k/M)Y^2

Solve for V by plugging in the numbers. The 2gY gravity term may turn out to be negligible compared to (k/M)Y^2

Answer 2

I just want to thank DRWLS. I sent to Cramster and the answer was wrong several times by them. Again thanks for help.

Answer 3

1.611m/s