Physics 1 word problem: Please Help! (Potential Energy and Force Exerted)

Question

A bumper cart has a mass of 200 kg and has a protective bumper around it that behaves like a spring. If the cart is moving at a speed of 8 m/s towards a solid barrier, and upon impact, is momentarily brought to rest.

a) How much elastic potential energy will be stored in the spring when it is fully compressed?

b) What is the average force exerted by the spring if it is compressed by a distance of 0.2 meters?

Please explain and show your work

Answer 1

Nathalie

The Kinetic energy of the bumper cart is (1/2) mv²=12,800J this energy can be transferred to a spring by compressing itby .2 m bringing the cart to rest so (1/2)k(.2)² =12,800 solving this for k gives k=640,000 nt/m

The force exerted by the spring when compressed by .2m is F=640,000*.2=128,000 nt

Hope this helps

Jim