A 15.0 kg block is released from rest from a 3.00 m height at point A as shown in the figure below. The track is frictionless except for the portion between points B and C, which has a length of 4.20 m. The block travels down the track, hits at the end of it a
spring and compresses the spring 0.320 m from its equilibrium position before coming to rest momentarily. Then the spring expands, forcing the block back to the left, and the block - after losing the contact with the spring - continues sliding to the
left, slows down at the rough part of the track between C and B and stops exactly at
point B.
• A 3.00 m
B<————-4.20 m————->C
a) What is in magnitude the kinetic friction force, fr exerted on the block by the rough part of the track between points B and C?
Hint: use energy conservation either total or mechanical, whatever is applicable. "Before" is point A and "after" is point B as the block stops.
b) What is the spring constant, k?
Hint: use energy conservation again. Here you may choose "before" to be the point of the spring's maximum compression and "after" to be point B, again, as the block stops.
c) What is the speed of the block at point C?
Hint: use energy conservation again. Here you may choose "before" to be the point of the spring's maximum compression and "after" to be point C.
2 answers