Question

A spring with a mass on the end of it hangs in equilibrium a distance of 0.4200 m above the floor. The mass is pulled down a distance 0.0600 m below the original position, released, and allowed to oscillate. How high above the floor is the mass at the highest point in its oscillation

Answer 1

0.48 m

Step-by-step explanation:

I'm assuming that this takes place in an ideal situation, where we neglect a host of factors such as friction, weight of the spring and others

If the mass is hanging from equilibrium at 0.42 m above the floor, from the question, and it is then pulled 0.06 m below that particular position. This pulling is a means of adding more energy into the spring, when it is released, the weight compresses the spring and equals its distance (i.e, 0.06 m) above the height.

0.42 m + 0.06 m = 0.48 m

At the highest point thus, the height is 0.48 m above the ground.