A block is gently pushed against a horizontal light spring fixed to a rigid wall so…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A 3.0kg block is gently pushed against a horizontal light spring fixed to a rigid wall so that the spring is compressed by 0.25m. The spring constant is 900Nm−1. The surface in contact with the block is perfectly smooth. When the block is released, it moves along the horizontal surface, leaves the spring and then climbs a smooth incline that makes an angle of 30∘ with the horizontal.
(i) Calculate the speed of the block as it just loses contact with the spring.
(ii) Determine the maximum vertical height (measured from the horizontal surface) reached by the block on the incline.
(iii) The experiment is repeated, but this time the spring is compressed by an unknown distance x so that the block is required to reach a vertical height of 2.0m on the same incline. Derive an expression for x and compute its numerical value.