Consider a horizontal spring of stiffness k = 87 N/m attached
to a 1.5 kg block at one end and a wall at the other. The spring is compressed by an amount x = 20 cm from
its unstretched length, x0.
a. If the mass is released from rest, how much work was done on the mass by the spring as the spring uncompresses and returns to its equilibrium length
b. Suppose the mass loses contact with the spring when the spring is at its equilibrium length. Using the work-kinetic energy theorem, what is the speed of the mass when it loses contact with the spring?
c. The mass slides along the horizontal surface and at some point, it encounters a ramp inclined at an angle of 41 degrees measured with
respect to the horizontal. There is friction between the block and the
ramp with coefficient of friction μ = 0.5. What is the total work done on the block by all outside forces bringing the mass to rest?
d. How far along the ramp, d, does the block slide before coming to rest?
Thanks in advance!