A 63 gg ice cube can slide without friction up and down a 30∘30∘ slope. The ice cube is pressed against a spring at the bottom of the slope, compressing the spring 10 cm. The spring constant is 30 N/mN/m . When the ice cube is released, what total distance will it travel up the slope before reversing direction?
Question
Given Information:
slope angle = θ = 30°
spring constant = k = 30 N/m
compressed length = x = 10 cm = 0.10 m
mass of ice cube = m = 63 g = 0.063 kg
Required Information:
distance traveled by ice cube = d = ?
Answer:
distance traveled by ice cube = 0.48 m
Explanation:
Using the the principle of conversation of energy, the following relation holds true for this case,
mgh = 1/2*kx²
h = 1/2*kx²/mg
Where h is the height of the slope, m is the mass of ice cube, k is the spring constant and x is the compressed length o the spring and g is gravitational acceleration.
h = 1/2*kx²/mg
h = 1/2*30(0.1)²/0.063*9.8
h = 0.242 m
From trigonometry ratio,
sinθ = h/d
d = h/sinθ
d = 0.242/sin(30)
d = 0.48 m
Therefore, when the ice cube is released, it will travel a total distance 0.48 up the slope before reversing direction.