Elastic Potential Energy

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Discussion

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The graph to the right shows the applied force vs. the extension for a particular spring.
1. Find the spring constant.
2. Find the work done on the spring.
3. Find the potential energy stored in the spring.
A spring operated dart gun fires 0.010 kg darts. Arming the gun requires 185 N of force and results in the shortening of the spring by 10 cm.
1. Find the spring constant.
2. Find the energy stored in the spring
3. Find the muzzle velocity of the dart.
4. If the dart is launched vertically, how high will it rise?
The dart in the previous problem strikes a 500 g squirrel. Find the speed of the squirrel after it was struck by the dart. (Assume the squirrel is at essentially the same height as the dart gun.)
A 68 kg acrobat stands on a spring loaded platform as a part of a stunt. If the spring under the platform has a spring constant of 1.6 × 10³ N/m, how far should the spring be compressed to vault the acrobat to a height of 5.0 m?
Estimate the elastic potential energy stored in the pole used in the pole vault given that elite vaulters are capable of heights in excess of 6 m and that world class sprinters can cover 100 m in about 10 s. (Assume that a typical vaulter has a mass of about 80 kg.)

A block of mass m rests on a rough horizontal surface whose coefficient of kinetic friction is μ_k. The block is held in contact with one end of a spring which is compressed a distance x. The spring has a spring constant of k. The other end of the spring is fixed. If the block is released, over what distance l will it travel from its initial position before it comes to rest? Express your answer in terms of the quantities provided in the description above (m, μ_k, x, k) and the acceleration due to gravity (g).

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