A ping-pong ball weighs 0.025 N. The ball is placed inside a cup that sits on top of a vertical spring. If the spring is compressed 0.055 m and released, the maximum height above the compressed position that the ball reaches is 2.84 m. Neglect air resistance and determine the spring constant.

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Physics

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17 August, 00:03

A ping-pong ball weighs 0.025 N. The ball is placed inside a cup that sits on top of a vertical spring. If the spring is compressed 0.055 m and released, the maximum height above the compressed position that the ball reaches is 2.84 m. Neglect air resistance and determine the spring constant.

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Moshe · Answer 1

The energy stored in the spring is used to throw the ball upwards. Let the height reached be h

stored energy of spring = 1/2 k y², k is spring constant and y is compression created in the spring

stored energy of spring = potential energy of the ball

1/2 k y² = mgh, m is mass of the ball, h is height attained by ball

.5 k x. 055² =.025 x 2.84

.0015125 k =.071

k =.071 /.0015125

= 46.9 N / m.