Question

A spring of negligible mass has force constant k = 900 N/m . You place the spring vertically with one end on the floor. You then lay a 1.60-kg book on top of the spring and release the book from rest. Find the maximum distance the spring will be compressed.

Answer 1

Gravitational acceleration = g = 9.81 m/s2

Mass of the book = m = 1.6 kg

Force constant of the spring = k = 900 N/m

Maximum distance the spring will compress = X

After the book released from rest on top of the spring the initial potential energy of the book is converted into the potential energy of the spring as it compresses the spring.

X = 3.49 x 10^-2 m

Maximum distance the spring will be compressed = 3.49 x 10^-2 m