A ball with a mass of #240 g# is projected vertically by a spring loaded contraption. The spring in the contraption has a spring constant of #12 (kg)/s^2# and was compressed by #3/2 m# when the ball was released. How high will the ball go?

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Answer 1 · 2017-08-27T15:04:02

The height is #=5.74m#

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The spring constant is #k=12kgs^-2#

The compression is #x=3/2m#

The potential energy in the spring is

#PE=1/2*12*(3/2)^2=13.5J#

This potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy when the spring is released and to potential energy of the ball

#KE_(ball)=1/2m u^2#

Let the height of the ball be #=h #

Then ,

The potential energy of the ball is #PE_(ball)=mgh#

The mass of the ball is #=0.240kg#

#PE_(ball)=13.5=0.240*9.8*h#

#h=13.5*1/(0.240*9.8)#

#=5.74m#