Question

A spring is compressed against a wall by a wooden block that has a force applied to it. If the force is removed from the block, what will happen to the spring?

1) The spring will remain compressed against the wall.
2) The spring will expand and move away from the wall.
3) The spring will contract and move towards the wall.
4) The spring will remain in its current position.

Answer 1

When the force is removed, the spring will expand and move away from the wall due to its restoring force. The potential energy stored in the block-spring system is converted into kinetic energy, causing the movement.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the force is removed from the wooden block, the spring will expand and move away from the wall. This is because the spring exerts a restoring force that is proportional to the displacement of the block. When the block is compressed against the spring, potential energy is stored in the block-spring system. When the force is removed, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing the spring to expand and the block to move away from the wall.