Question

A short spring with a spring constant of 1000 N/m is compressed by 0.1 m. How high above the starting point will a 0.2 kg mass rise if fired vertically by this spring?

Answer 1

`"2.5 m"`

Explanation:

Energy is conserved.

Energy stored in spring = Potential energy gained by object at maximum height

`1/2"kx"^2 = "mgh"`

`"h" = (1/2"kx"^2)/"mg" = (1/2 × "1000 N/m" × ("0.1 m")^2)/("0.2 kg × 9.8 m/s"^2) = "2.5 m"`