Question

A 0.250 kg block attached to a light spring oscillates on a frictionless, horizontal table. The oscillation amplitude is A = 0.125 m and the block moves at 3.00 m/s as it passes through equilibrium at x = 0. (a) Find the spring constant, k. (b) Calculate the total energy of the block- spring system. (c) Find the block’s speed when x = A/2. 2

Answer 1

Explanation:

The equation of maximum speed of an object undergoing simple harmonic motion is,

Here, is angular speed of the wave and is amplitude.

The equation for angular speed of the wave is,

Here, is spring constant.

The above two equations yields,

Substitute for ,for and for .

Therefore, the spring constant of the spring is .