Chapter 8, Problem 21P

(II) When a mass m sits at rest on a spring, the spring is compressed by a distance d from its undeformed length (Fig. 8–33a). Suppose instead that the mass is released from rest when it barely touches the undeformed spring (Fig. 8–33b). Find the distance D that the spring is compressed before it is able to stop the mass. Does D = d? If not, why not?

FIGURE 8–33

Problem 21.