Question

A 1.7 kg crate falls from a height of 1.6 m onto an industrial spring scale with a spring constant of 1.7 × 105 N/m. At its greatest compression the reading on the scale is (assume the spring compression is small compared to the original drop height):

Select one:

a. 3.0 kN

b. 9.5 N

c. 1.0 kN

d. 16.7 N

e. 0.0 N

Answer 1

Given,

Mass of crate, m = 1.7 kg

Height of fall, h = 1.6 m

Spring constant, k = 1.7 x 10⁵ N/m

Let g = 9.81 m/s^{​​​​​​2} be the acceleration due to gravity

By conservation of energy principle,

Initial and final mechanical energy of the crate is constant

i.e., Initial potential energy + Initial kinetic energy = Final potential energy + Final kinetic energy

Hence the reading on the scale is 3 kN

According to the given options,

a. Correct

b. Incorrect

c. Incorrect

d. Incorrect

e. Incorrect