A light spring with force constant 3.85 N/m is compressed by 5.00 cm as it is held between a 0.250 kg block on the left and a 0.500 kg block on the right, both resting on a horizontal surface. The spring exerts a force on each block, tending to push them apart. The blocks are simultaneously released from rest. Find the acceleration with which each block starts to move, given that the coefficient of kinetic friction between each block and the surface is the following values. Let the coordinate system be positive to the right and negative to the left.

Question

a)µ = 0
b)µ = 0.040
c)µ = 0.462

Answer 1

Find the force on the spring: kx
Then the force of friction on each block mu*mg

a=acceelrating force/m= (kx-mu*mg)/m

do that for each block.