A block of mass m1 = 160 kg moving to the right with a speed of 4.00 m/s on a horizontal frictionless track collides with a light spring (negligible mass) which is attached to a second block of mass m2 = 2.10 kg moving to the left with a speed of 2.50 m/s, as shown in figure (a). The spring constant is k = 600 N/m.
(A) Calculate the velocities of the two blocks after the collision (v1f and v2f). (Hint: Collision is elastic)
(B) Calculate the velocity of block 2 during the collision (v2f), at the instant when block 1 is moving to the right with a velocity of +3.00 m/s (b) (Help: Use the principle of conservation of linear momentum)
(C) Calculate the distance that the spring is compressing (x) at that instant.