A 0.5-kg block slides along a horizontal frictionless surface at 2 m/s. It is brought to rest by compressing a very long spring of spring constant 800 N/m. The maximum spring compression is: a) 0 cm b) 3 cm c) 5 cm d) 80 cm e) 80 m

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Title: Kinetic Energy and Spring Compression Problem

**Problem Statement:**

A 0.5-kg block slides along a horizontal frictionless surface at 2 m/s. It is brought to rest by compressing a very long spring of spring constant 800 N/m. The maximum spring compression is:

- a) 0 cm
- b) 3 cm
- c) 5 cm
- d) 80 cm
- e) 80 m

**Solution Discussion:**

To find the maximum compression of the spring, we need to equate the initial kinetic energy of the block to the potential energy stored in the spring at maximum compression.

1. **Initial Kinetic Energy (KE):**
   \[
   KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 
   \]
   where \( m = 0.5 \, \text{kg} \) and \( v = 2 \, \text{m/s} \).

2. **Potential Energy in the Spring (PE):**
   \[
   PE = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 
   \]
   where \( k = 800 \, \text{N/m} \) and \( x \) is the compression.

3. **Setting KE equal to PE:**
   \[
   \frac{1}{2} m v^2 = \frac{1}{2} k x^2
   \]

4. **Solving for \( x \):**
   \[
   x = \sqrt{\frac{m v^2}{k}}
   \]

5. **Calculate:**
   \[
   x = \sqrt{\frac{0.5 \times 2^2}{800}} = \sqrt{\frac{2}{800}} = \sqrt{0.0025} = 0.05 \, \text{m}
   \]

**Conclusion:**

The maximum spring compression is 0.05 m, which corresponds to option c) 5 cm.
Transcribed Image Text:Title: Kinetic Energy and Spring Compression Problem **Problem Statement:** A 0.5-kg block slides along a horizontal frictionless surface at 2 m/s. It is brought to rest by compressing a very long spring of spring constant 800 N/m. The maximum spring compression is: - a) 0 cm - b) 3 cm - c) 5 cm - d) 80 cm - e) 80 m **Solution Discussion:** To find the maximum compression of the spring, we need to equate the initial kinetic energy of the block to the potential energy stored in the spring at maximum compression. 1. **Initial Kinetic Energy (KE):** \[ KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 \] where \( m = 0.5 \, \text{kg} \) and \( v = 2 \, \text{m/s} \). 2. **Potential Energy in the Spring (PE):** \[ PE = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 \] where \( k = 800 \, \text{N/m} \) and \( x \) is the compression. 3. **Setting KE equal to PE:** \[ \frac{1}{2} m v^2 = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 \] 4. **Solving for \( x \):** \[ x = \sqrt{\frac{m v^2}{k}} \] 5. **Calculate:** \[ x = \sqrt{\frac{0.5 \times 2^2}{800}} = \sqrt{\frac{2}{800}} = \sqrt{0.0025} = 0.05 \, \text{m} \] **Conclusion:** The maximum spring compression is 0.05 m, which corresponds to option c) 5 cm.
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