Question

A ball with a mass of `80` `g` is projected vertically by a spring loaded contraption. The spring in the contraption has a spring constant of `6` `kgs^-2` and was compressed by `4/5` `m` when the ball was released. How high will the ball go?

Answer 1

The spring potential energy in the spring, `E_(p(s))=1/2kx^2=1/2*6*4/5=2.4` `J`, will all be converted into gravitational potential energy when the ball is at its highest point. `E_(p(g))=mgh`. Rearranging, and expressing the mass in `kg`: `h=E_(p(g))/(mg)=2.4/(0.080*9.8)=3.06` `m`