Question

PLEASE HELP!! A 2.0 kg moving cart hits a spring with a spring constant 50.0 N/m. Assume the system is frictionless. When the cart has come to rest, how far has the spring compressed?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

A spring has a spring constant, (k), of 3 N/m. It is stretched until it is extended by 50 cm. Calculate the elastic potential energy stored by the spring, assuming it is not stretched beyond the limit of proportionality.

First convert centimetres to metres:

50 cm = 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5 m

Then calculate using the values in the question:

Ee=12 k e2

Ee=12×3×0.52

Ee=1.5×0.25

Ee=0.375 J