A ball with a mass of #360 g# is projected vertically by a spring loaded contraption. The spring in the contraption has a spring constant of #24 (kg)/s^2# and was compressed by #5/4 m# when the ball was released. How high will the ball go?

1 Answer
May 11, 2017

The height is #=5.31m#

Explanation:

enter image source here

The spring constant is #k=24kgs^-2#

The compression is #x=5/4m#

The potential energy in the spring is

#PE=1/2*24*(5/4)^2=75/4J#

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#

#PE_(ball)=75/4=0.36*9.8*h#

#h=75/4*1/(0.36*9.8)#

#=5.31m#