Physics

Problem

A physics club wants to store exactly

2.0\,\text{J}

of energy in a horizontal light spring whose force constant is

200\,\text{N/m}

. They plan to let a

1.0\,\text{kg}

mass fall vertically and compress the spring so that all the gravitational potential energy of the mass just equals the elastic potential energy stored in the spring. (i) What compression

x

of the spring corresponds to the required stored energy? (ii) From what height above the upper end of the spring must the mass be released so that, neglecting energy losses, the required compression is achieved?

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