-D
0
3D
1. A block is initially at position x = 0 and in contact with an uncompressed spring of negligible mass. The
block is pushed back along a frictionless surface from position x = 0 to x = -D, as shown above,
compressing the spring by an amount \(\Delta x = D\). The block is then released. At x = 0 the block enters a rough
part of the track and eventually comes to rest at position x = D. The coefficient of kinetic friction between
the block and the rough track is \(\mu\).
a. On the axes below, sketch and label graphs of the following three quantities as a function of the
position of the block between x=-D and x=3D
-D
1.
The kinetic energy, K, of the block
ii.
The potential energy, U, of the block
iii.
The total mechanical energy, E, of the block
Energy
0
D
2D
X
3D
b. In terms of \(\mu\), D, and fundamental constants, find the value of k, the spring's spring constant