Question

A block of mass minitially at rest is dropped from a height $h$ on to a spring of force constant $k$. the maximum compression in the spring is $x$ then

• A. $m g h=\frac{1}{2} k x^{2}$
• B. $m g(h+x)=\frac{1}{2} k x^{2}$
• C. $m g h=\frac{1}{2} k(x+h)^{2}$
• D. $m g(h+x)=\frac{1}{2} k(x+h)^{2}$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Change in gravitational potential energy = Elastic potential energy stored in compressed spring
$\Rightarrow m g(h +x)=\frac{1}{2} k x^{2}$