Block attached to Spring

A block of mass \(m\) attached to a linear spring with spring constant \(k\) and an un-stretched length of \(3R/2 m\) is held at equilibrium in the position shown below and then released from rest.

Part 1

If the spring stiffness constant is increased, does the maximum horizontal displacement of the block increase or decrease?

Answer Section

• Increases, because the block now has more stored elastic potential energy initially.

• Decreases, because a greater stiffness constant results in a larger decelerating force, hence the new spring can do the same negative work in a shorter distance.

• No change, because the increased initial stored potential energy is offset by the greater amount of negative work done.

Attribution

Problem is from the OpenStax University Physics Volume 2 textbook, licensed under the CC-BY 4.0 license.