Ok, I am not sure how to about about solving this problem and have been staring at it and drawing pictures for several hours now. Do I use the spring equation for potential energy? Or is it a momentum problem where I should assume the spring has it's own velocity? Any help is MUCH appreciated!
Here's the problem:
A spring has it's right end fixed and is installed on a horizontal table so that the free end, in equilibrium, is at x=3.00 m. A 1.65 block coming from the left side slides along the table. When it passes the origin, it is moving at 5.58m/s. It strikes the spring, compresses it momentarily, and then is sent back toward the left, where it eventually comes to rest at the point x=1.50 m. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the table is 0.300. By what distance was the spring compressed?
1 answer