Two blocks of masses m and 3m are placed on a frictionless, horizontal surface.

Question

Two blocks of masses m and 3m are placed on a frictionless, horizontal surface. A light spring is attached to the more massive block, and the blocks are pushed together with the spring between them as shown in the figure below. A cord initially holding the blocks together is burned; after that happens, the block of mass 3m moves to the right with a speed of 3m = 2.40 m/s. What is the velocity of the block of mass m? (Assume right is positive and left is negative.) Find the system's original elastic potential energy, taking m = 0.390 kg.

Explanation / Answer

f you've got part a, then you know the velocity for m
( I get 6.15 m/s)

after the spring releases it's energy, all of the spring potential energy must show up as velocity energy in the two blocks as there is no friction and no change in gravity potential.

the velocity energy will be found as
KE =

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