Physics- Spring?

Question

A block of mass 2 Kg is dropped from height h= 40 cm onto a spring of spring constant k=1960 N/m. Find max distance spring is compressed.

Answer 1

I will assume that the spring first contacts the block at exactly 40 cm into the fall

Using conservation of energy and x as the compressed distance of the spring, after contact

2*9.8*(.4+x)=.5*k*x^2
solve for x

x=0.1 m or 10 cm

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