The following system is created to measure the coefficient of kinetic friction o

Question

The following system is created to measure the coefficient of kinetic friction of a given surface material. A 15 kg block is pressed against a spring with spring coefficient of 1500N/m and an initial compression of 35.0 cm.

In this example, the block will rest against spring #1 initially and is then released. Spring #1 will decompress and shoot the block across the frictional section to spring #2 which temporarily compresses and then decompresses. The block then returns across the frictional section a second time and finally compresses spring #1 again.

If the block compresses spring #1 only 27.0cm on the return trip, find the coefficient of kinetic friction for the 1.00 meter section of material. Spring #2 is just there to change the direction of the block at the other end and does no net work.

Explanation / Answer

Energy in = Energy out
W of spring = Work of friction + work of spring 2
.5kx^2= umgd + .5kx^2
.5(1500)(.35^2)= u(15)(9.8)1 + .5(1500)(.27^2)
u= .2531

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