A 0.40kg block oscillates horizontally on a frictionless surface, attached to an ideal spring. A coordinate axis is chosen so that the origin is located 0.080m to the right of the spring’s relaxed length; displacements to the left of the origin are positive.
When released from rest, the block is located at x=+0.060m (that is, 6.0cm left of the origin) and the spring is compressed relative to its relaxed length.
(a) Determine the magnitude and direction (as left or right) of the restoring force on the block at the instant of release if the spring constant is 75Nm−1.
(b) Calculate the instantaneous acceleration of the block at that moment.
(c) State whether the block will initially move toward or away from the origin, and justify your answer using your results from parts (a) and (b).