Spring TIPERs

SWHS APPY1

1. The figures below show systems containing a block attached to the end of a spring resting on a frictionless
surface. In each system, a student stretches the spring to the right by the distance given in the figure. The mass of
the block and force constant or the spring are also given for each system.

A B C
0.4 m stretch 0.2 m stretch 0.2 m stretch
5 N/m 5 N/m 4 N/m
1 kg 2 kg 5 kg

D E F
0.5 m stretch 0.5 m stretch 0.5 m stretch
1 N/m 4 N/m 1 N/m
1 kg 4 kg 5 kg

Rank these systems (from greatest to least) on the basis of the work done on the block-spring systems by the
student stretching the springs.
Greatest 1 _______ 2 _______ 3 _______ 4 _______ 5 _______ 6 _______ Least
OR, the work done on the systems to stretch the springs will be the same for ALL six blocks. ___
OR, the work done on the systems to stretch the springs will be zero for ALL six blocks. ___
OR, We cannot determine the ranking for the work done on the systems to stretch the springs. ___
Explain your reasoning.

2. Two boxes are tied together and are sitting at rest in the middle of a large air table. (An air table blows air
through tiny holes on its surface so that there is essentially no friction.) Between the two boxes is a compressed
spring. The box on the left has four times the mass of the box on the right. The string tying the two boxes
together is cut suddenly and the spring extends, pushing the boxes apart.

String
4M
M
Spring

At the instant the boxes lose contact with the spring will the box on the left have a (a) larger, (b) smaller, (c)
equal, or (d) indeterminate kinetic energy compared to the box on the right? _______
Explain.

3. Two boxes are tied together and are sitting at rest in the middle of a large air table. (An air table blows air through
tiny holes on its surface so that there is essentially no friction.) Between the two boxes is a compressed spring.
The box on the left has four times the mass of the box on the right. The string tying the two boxes together cut
suddenly and the spring extends, pushing the boxes apart. When the boxes lose contact with the spring the box on
the left will have less kinetic energy than the box on the right.
 String
4M
M
Spring

After the string is cut, but while the boxes are still in contact with the spring, will the force on the left box
by the spring be (a) greater than, (b) less than, (c) equal to, or (d) indeterminate compared to the force on the
right box by the spring? _______
Explain.
4. The six figures below show systems of two blocks that are tied together. Each one is attached to a spring. The
systems are all at rest with the springs being stretched by the same amount. The blocks on the horizontal surface
are all identical; but as the figures show, the masses of the blocks on the inclined surfaces and the spring-
constants of the springs vary. The specific values are given in each figure. There may be friction in these
systems.

A B C

k = 120 N/m k = 150 N/m k = 120 N/m

D E F

r
k = 150 N/m k = 150 N/m k = 180 N/m
4 kg 5 kg 5 kg

Rank these systems from greatest to least on the basis of the spring potential energy.
Greatest 1 _______ 2 _______ 3 _______ 4 _______ 5 _______ 6 _______ Least
OR, The spring potential energies are the same for ALL SIX systems. ___
OR, The spring potential energies are zero for ALL SIX systems. ___
OR, We cannot determine the ranking for the spring potential energies. ___
Explain your reasoning.

5. The figures below show systems containing a block attached to the end of a spring and resting on a frictionless
surface. In each system, the springs are stretched by a student to the right by a distance given in the figure. The
mass and force constant are also given for each system.

A B C
0.4 m stretch 0.2 m stretch 0.2 m stretch
5 N/m 5 N/m 4 N/m
1 kg 2 kg 5 kg

D E F
0.5 m stretch 0.5 m stretch 0.5 m stretch
1 N/m 4 N/m 1 N/m
1 kg 4 kg 5 kg

Rank these systems on the basis of the potential energy of the stretched spring-block systems.
Greatest 1 _______ 2 _______ 3 _______ 4 _______ 5 _______ 6 _______ Least
OR, the potential energy of the spring-block systems will be the same. ___
OR, the potential energy of the spring-block systems will be zero for ALL these systems. ___
OR, We cannot determine the ranking for the potential energy of the spring-block systems. ___
Explain your reasoning.