A 1.20-kg piece of cheese is placed on a vertical spring of negligible mass and force constant k = 1800 N/m that is compressed 15.0 cm. When the spring is released, how high does the cheese rise from this initial position? (The cheese and the spring are n? ot? attached.)
Solution 20E Introduction The potential energy of the cheese at the maximum height will be equal to the potential energy of the spring at maximum compression. Hence by calculating the potential energies we can calculate the maximum height of the cheese. Step 1 The potential energy of the string, after compressing for amount x is given by Now let us consider that, the maximum height of the cheese will be h. Hence the potential energy is Hence we have So the spring will rise 1.73 m from its initial position.
