Answer:
2 m/s
Step-by-step explanation:
Spring constant, k = 10 N/m
Mass of the cork, m = 6 g = 0.006 kg
Initial position of the spring, x = 5 cm = 0.05 m
Final position of the spring, x' = 1 cm = 0.01 m
Let v be the muzzle speed of the cork.
According to the law of conservation of energy,
Initial potential energy = final potential energy + kinetic energy
0.5 x 10 x 0.05 x 0.05 = 0.5 x 10 x 0.01 x 0.01 + 0.5 x 0.006 x v²
0.0125 = 0.0005 + 0.003v²
v = 2 m/s
Thus, the muzzle speed of the cork is 2 m/s.