Question

A compressed spring in a toy is used to launch a 5.00-gram ball.
If the ball leaves the toy with an initial horizontal speed of 5.00 meters per second, the minimum amount of potential energy stored in the compressed spring was:

a) 0.0125 J
b) 0.0250 J
c) 0.0625 J
d) 0.125 J

Answer 1

Answer:

c) 0.0625 J

Explanation:

How the mechanical energy is conserved, then ball’s kinetic energy is equal to stored energy in compressed spring.

Then:

$K = U_{e}$

         Where K: kinetic energy

                     $U_{e}$: elastic potential energy

$K = \frac{mv^{2} }{2}$

$K = \frac{(0.005)(5)^{2} }{2}$

K = 0.0625 J

and

  $U_{e}$ = 0.0625