Final answer:
Potential energy stored in the spring can be calculated using U = 1/2 * k * x², and the force exerted by the spring is given by Hooke's Law F = -k * x.
There is no frictional force since the table is frictionless. Additional information like the spring constant is required to calculate the acceleration of the book.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a student pushes a book against a spring on a frictionless table, the spring becomes compressed and stores potential energy.
The amount of potential energy (U) stored in the spring is given by the formula U = 1/2 * k * x², where k is the spring constant and x is the compression distance. When the spring is released, this potential energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the book.
The force exerted by the spring on the book can be calculated using Hooke's Law, F = -k * x. There is no frictional force on the table since the table is frictionless, and thus no energy is lost due to friction.
To determine the acceleration of the book once it is released, one would need to know the spring constant (and use F = ma, where F is the force exerted by the spring, m is the mass of the book, and a is the acceleration).
Without the spring constant, the acceleration cannot be calculated.