A spring with a constant of #12 (kg)/s^2# is lying on the ground with one end attached to a wall. An object with a mass of #6 kg# and speed of #4 m/s# collides with and compresses the spring until it stops moving. How much will the spring compress?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-08T06:17:48

The spring will compress by #=2.83m#

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The spring constant is #k=12kgs^-2#

The kinetic energy of the object is

#KE=1/2m u^2#

#KE=1/2*6*4^2=48J#

This kinetic energy will be stored in the spring as potential energy.

#PE=48J#

So,

#1/2kx^2=48#

#x^2=96/k=96/12=8#

#x=sqrt8=2.83m#