A mass m moves with a speed v on a horizontal smooth surface and collides with a nearly massless spring whose spring constant is k. If the mass stops after collision, compute the maximum compression of the spring.

A mass m moves with a speed v on a horizontal smooth surface and colli

1.	A mass m moves with a speed v on a horizontal smooth surface and collides with a nearly massless spring whose spring constant is k. If the mass stops after collision, compute the maximum compression of the spring.
Answer» Solution :When the MASS collides with the spring, from the law of conservation of energy ..the loss in kinetic energy of mass is gain in elastic potential energy by spring... Let x be the DISTANCE of COMPRESSION of spring, then the law of conservation of energy `(1)/(2)mv^(2)=(1)/(2)KX^(2)impliesx=vsqrt((m)/(k))`