Spring pushing blocks apart with friction · CAP 2013 #27
Physics · mechanics
Problem
A light spring with a force constant of 3.85 N/m is compressed by 8.00 cm and held between two blocks. The block on the left has a mass of 250 g, while the block on the right has a mass of 500 g. Both blocks are initially held at rest on a horizontal surface, and are then released simultaneously so that the spring pushes them apart.
What is the maximum velocity each block attains if the coefficient of kinetic friction between each block and the surface is 0.100 and the coefficient of static friction is 0.120?