Question

For fun, you strap roller skates to a washing machine and let it go at the top of a ramp. It rolls down the ramp and then along a level walk until it collides with a horizontal spring, which momentarily stops it. a) Name each force that acts on the washing machine during this interval (from release to momentarily stopping), stating whether it does positive, negative, or zero work on the washing machine. Briefly explain your reasoning for each one, without equations or math. b) The top of the ramp is 1.40 m above the sidewalk, the washer's mass is 88.0 kg, and the spring compresses 52.0 cm while stopping the washer. Calculate the spring's force constant k, assuming conservation of mechanical energy. c) Since that was fun, you try again, this time shoving the washing machine from the top of the ramp, instead of simply letting it go. You push it with a force of 370 N for 2.65 m along the ramp before losing contact. How far does the spring compress when it stops the washing machine, this time? Hint: the force you exert on the washing machine is non-conservative.

Answer 1