A spring gun has a spring constant of 175 N/m. How fast will a 0.02 kg dart go if the spring is compressed 0.015 m? *

Answer 1

The potential energy in the spring is given by the formula PE=1/2 k x^2

PE = 1/2 (175) (0.015)^2 = 0.0196875 Joules

This energy will all be converted into kinetic energy of the dart.

KE = 1/2 m v^2

0.0196875 = 1/2 (0.02) v^2

v = 1.403 m/s