A block attached to a light vertical spring is pulled down and released
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A block attached to a light vertical spring is pulled down and released. Neglecting air resistance, what happens to the sum of its kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy during the subsequent motion?
(a) It is maximum at the highest point and minimum at the lowest point.
(b) It varies periodically between two fixed extreme values, becoming maximum twice in each cycle.
(c) It remains constant at all instants.
(d) It increases continuously as the block moves upward.