Final answer:
The work done by the force F(x) = 5x^3 as a mass moves from x = 3.87 m to x = 6.09 m is calculated by integrating the force over the distance. Using the work-energy theorem, one can find the speed of the mass at x = 6.09 m given its initial velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks how to calculate the work done by a force and the resulting speed of a mass after it has moved a certain distance on a frictionless surface. To find the work done, we integrate the force over the distance. Since F(x) = 5x3, the work done (W) from x = 3.87 m to x = 6.09 m is the integral of F(x) from 3.87 to 6.09, which gives W = (5/4)(x4)[from 3.87 to 6.09]. After finding the work done, we can use the work-energy theorem to determine the final speed of the mass at x = 6.09 m. The work-energy theorem states that the work done on the object is equal to the change in kinetic energy, so W = ½ m(vfinal2 - vinitial2).
Given the initial speed vinitial = 2 m/s at x = 3.87 m, the final speed vfinal at x = 6.09 m can be found by rearranging the work-energy theorem:
vfinal = √(vinitial2 + (2*W)/m)