In the reality television show "Amazing Race," a contestant is firing 12 kg watermelons from a slingshot to hit targets down the field. The slingshot is stretched from its equilibrium length by a distance of 1.8 m, and the watermelon is at ground level, 0.3 m below the launch point. The targets are at ground level 14 m horizontally away from the launch point. Calculate the spring constant of the slingshot (in N/m). (Assume the angle that the watermelon's velocity makes with the horizontal at the launch point is the same as the angle the slingshot makes with the horizontal when pulled back. Also assume the equilibrium length of the slingshot is negligible.)

In the reality television show "Amazing Race," a contestant is firing 12 kg watermelons from a slingshot to hit targets down the field. The slingshot is stretched from its equilibrium length by a distance of 1.8 m, and the watermelon is at ground level, 0.3 m below the launch point. The targets are at ground level 14 m horizontally away from the launch point. Calculate the spring constant of the slingshot (in N/m). (Assume the angle that the watermelon's velocity makes with the horizontal at the launch point is the same as the angle the slingshot makes with the horizontal when pulled back. Also assume the equilibrium length of the slingshot is negligible.)

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections

1st Edition

ISBN:9781133939146

Author:Katz, Debora M.

Publisher:Katz, Debora M.

Chapter9: Energy In Nonisolated Systems

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 51PQ: A small 0.65-kg box is launched from rest by a horizontal spring as shown in Figure P9.50. The block...

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The position of a particle attached to a vertical spring is given by y=(y0cost)j. The y axis points upward, y0 = 14.5 cm. and = 18.85 rad/s. Find the position of the particle at a. t = 0 and b. t = 9.0 s. Give your answers in centimeters.
A block of mass m = 2.00 kg is attached to a spring of force constant k = 500 N/m as shown in Figure P7.15. The block is pulled to a position xi = 5.00 cm to the right of equilibrium and released from rest. Find the speed the block has as it passes through equilibrium if (a) the horizontal surface is frictionless and (b) the coefficient of friction between block and surface is k = 0.350. Figure P7.15
You attach a block to the bottom end of a spring hanging vertically. You slowly let the block move down and find that it hangs at rest with the spring stretched by 15.0 cm. Next, you lift the block back up to the initial position and release it from rest with the spring unstretched. What maximum distance does it move down? (a) 7.5 cm (b) 15.0 cm (c) 30.0 cm (d) 60.0 cm (e) The distance cannot be determined without knowing the mass and spring constant.
A block of mass 300 g is attached to a spring of spring constant 100 N/m. The other end of the spring is attached to a support while the block rests on a smooth horizontal table and can slide freely without any friction. The block is pushed horizontally till the spring compresses by 12 cm, and then the block is released from rest. (a) How much potential energy was stored in the block-spring support system when the block was just released? (b) Determine the speed of the block when it crosses the point when the spring is neither compressed nor stretched. (c) Determine the speed of the block when it has traveled a distance of 20 cm from where it was released.
A light spring with spring constant 1 200 N/m is hung from an elevated support. From its lower end hangs a second light spring, which has spring constant 1 800 N/m. An object of mass 1.50 kg is hung at rest from the lower end of the second spring. (a) Find the total extension distance of the pair of springs. (b) Find the effective spring constant of the pair of springs as a system. We describe these springs as in series.
A childs pogo stick (Fig. P7.69) stores energy in a spring with a force constant of 2.50 104 N/m. At position (x = 0.100 m), the spring compression is a maximum and the child is momentarily at rest. At position (x = 0), the spring is relaxed and the child is moving upward. At position , the child is again momentarily at rest at the top of the jump. The combined mass of child and pogo stick is 25.0 kg. Although the boy must lean forward to remain balanced, the angle is small, so lets assume the pogo stick is vertical. Also assume the boy does not bend his legs during the motion. (a) Calculate the total energy of the childstickEarth system, taking both gravitational and elastic potential energies as zero for x = 0. (b) Determine x. (c) Calculate the speed of the child at x = 0. (d) Determine the value of x for which the kinetic energy of the system is a maximum. (e) Calculate the childs maximum upward speed. Figure P7.69
A horizontal spring attached to a wall has a force constant of k = 850 N/m. A block of mass m = 1.00 kg is attached to the spring and rests on a frictionless, horizontal surface as in Figure P7.55. (a) The block is pulled to a position xi = 6.00 cm from equilibrium and released. Find the elastic potential energy stored in the spring when the block is 6.00 cm from equilibrium and when the block passes through equilibrium. (b) Find the speed of the block as it passes through the equilibrium point. (c) What is the speed of the block when it is at a position xi/2 = 3.00 cm? (d) Why isnt the answer to part (c) half the answer to part (b)? Figure P7.55
A weight is connected to a spring that is suspended vertically from the ceiling. If the weight is displaced downward from its equilibrium position and released, it will oscillate up and down. (a) If air resistance is neglected, will the total mechanical energy of the system (weight plus Earth plus spring) be conserved? (b) How many forms of potential energy are there for this situation?
In the Hunger Games movie (https://openstaxcollege.org/l/21HungGamesclip), Katniss Everdeen fires a 0.0200-kg arrow from ground level to pierce an apple up on a stage. The spring constant of the bow is 330 N/m and she pulls the arrow back a distance of 0.55 m. The apple on the stage is 5.00 m higher than the launching point of the arrow. At what speed does the arrow (a) leave the bow? (b) strike the apple?
A spring of spring constant k lies along an incline as shown in Figure P8.27. A block of mass m is attached to the spring. The spring compresses, and the block comes to rest as shown. Find an expression for the change in the Earthblockspring systems potential energy in terms of the parameters given in the figure.
After ripping the padding off a chair you are refurbishing, you notice that there are six springs beneath, which are intended to contribute equally in supporting your weight when you sit. You find a tag that indicates that the springs are identical and that each has a spring constant of 1.5 103 N/m. What would be the elastic potential energy stored in the six-spring system if you were to sit on the chair?
You are lying in your bedroom, resting after doing your physics homework. As you stare at your ceiling, you come up with the idea for a new game. You grab a dart with a sticky nose and a mass of 19.0 g. You also grab a spring that has been lying on your desk from some previous project. You paint a target pattern on your ceiling. Your new game is to place the spring vertically on the floor, place the sticky-nose dart facing upward on the spring, and push the spring downward until the coils all press together, as on the right in Figure P7.26. You will then release the spring, firing the dart up toward the target on your ceiling, where its sticky nose will make it hang from the ceiling. The spring has an uncompressed end-to-end length of 5.00 cm, as shown on the left in Figure P7.26, and can be compressed to an end-to-end length of 1.00 cm when the coils are all pressed together. Before trying the game, you hold the upper end of the spring in one hand and hang a bundle of ten identical darts from the lower end of the spring. The spring extends by 1.00 cm due to the weight of the darts. You are so excited about the new game that, before doing a test of the game, you run out to gather your friends to show them. When your friends are in your room watching and you show them the first firing of your new game, why are you embarrassed? Figure P7.26