Question

A 3.2 kg block is hanging stationary from the end of a vertical spring that is attached to the ceiling. The elastic potential energy of this spring/mass sytem is 1.9 J. What is the elastic potential energy of the system when the 3.2 kg block is replaced by a 5.3 kg block?

Answer 1

The elastic potential energy of the system remains the same when the block is replaced with a heavier block.

Step-by-step explanation:

The elastic potential energy of a mass-spring system can be calculated using the formula:

PE = (1/2)kx²,

where PE is the potential energy, k is the spring constant, and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position. In this case, the elastic potential energy of the system with a 3.2 kg block is 1.9 J. To find the elastic potential energy when the block is replaced with a 5.3 kg block, we can use the same formula and solve for x. Since the spring is stationary, the displacement (x) remains the same.

Therefore, the elastic potential energy of the system with the 5.3 kg block would also be 1.9 J.