Spring-Mass System on Incline · PhysicsBowl 2023 #38
Physics · mechanics
Problem
A box of mass m is pressed against (but is not attached to) an ideal spring of force constant k and negligible mass. The spring is compressed a distance x. After it is released, the box slides up a frictionless incline as shown in the diagram at right and eventually stops. If we repeat this experiment with a box of mass 2m
[Figure: Diagram showing spring-mass system on an inclined plane]
a. the lighter box will go twice as high up the incline as the heavier box.
b. just as it moves free of the spring, the lighter box will be moving twice as fast as the heavier box.
c. both boxes will have the same speed just as they move free of the spring.
d. both boxes will reach the same maximum height on the incline.
e. just as it moves free of the spring, the heavier box will have twice as much kinetic energy as the lighter box.