Question

A block of mass 2 kg slides down a frictionless ramp of length 1.3 m tilted at an angle 25o to the horizontal. At the bottom of the ramp the block slides on the floor and collides with a spring which it compressed 24 cm.

1. Draw a plot of the velocity of the block where t=0 is when the block hits the spring.

2. Draw a plot of the position of the block where t=0 is when the block hits the spring.

Answer 1

Diagrams in pictures

Step-by-step explanation:

Using energy I can get

m g h = 1/2 m v^2

So the velocity at the end of the ramp is the squareroot of two times the initial height of the box times the gravity constant.

(H= 1,3m sin25)

V=2,32m/s

V= a t

And

X= v t +1/2 a t^2

Knowing v=2,32 m/s and x= 1,3 m

I can get

a= 6,21m/s2

F= m a

I can get the force of the box when it collides with the spring

F= 12, 425 N

The force the spring makes on the box then is

F = -12,425N = -k d

Then the spring's constant is k= 51,75N/m

To make the two diagrams I need the functions of time when the box slows down

I use the same two equations

V= a t

And

X= v t + 1/2 a t^2

Being now 2,32 my initial velocity and 0 my final velocity, and my distance 0,24 m.

I get there the time t=0,0689 seconds and the acceleration a= -33,67 m/s2 (negative because it's slowing down).

Then,

V(t)= - 33,67 m/s2 t for time between 0 and 0,689 sec

X(t)= 2,32 m/s t + 1/2 33,67 m/s2 t^2.

for time between 0 and 0,689 sec

Diagrams and equations are in the pictures