A 15-kg block at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface is attached to a very light ideal spring of force constant 450 N/m. T
he other end of the spring is attached to a fixed wall. A lump of putty travels horizontally with a speed of 8.0 m/s towards the block from the side directly opposite the spring. The putty strikes and sticks to the block. What is the maximum distance the spring is compressed after the impact
μk = (d1)sin(θ) / [(cosθ)(d1) + (d2)]. In this situation, we apply the work/energy principle which asserts that the change in kinetic energy equals the total work exerted on the system by all forces. Given the object is at rest initially and finally, the change in kinetic energy (ΔKE) is zero, indicating total work done must coincide with this state.
