A block is attached to a horizontal ideal spring of force constant and performs…
PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
A 0.40kg block is attached to a horizontal ideal spring of force constant 80Nm−1 and performs simple harmonic oscillations on a smooth surface. At an instant when the block is 3.0cm away from its equilibrium position and moving towards it, determine:
(a) the potential energy stored in the spring at that instant,
(b) the mechanical work that the spring must do on the block while it moves from this position to the equilibrium position,
(c) the increase in the kinetic energy of the block during this motion.