A rifle fires a 2.05 x 10-2-kg pellet straight upward, because the pellet rests on a compressed spring that is released when the trigger is pulled. The spring has a negligible mass and is compressed by 8.01 x 10-2 m from its unstrained length. The pellet rises to a maximum height of 4.46 m above its position on the compressed spring. Ignoring air resistance, determine the spring constant.

Spring Constant = 279.58 N/m

Explanation:

We are given;

Mass; m = 2.05 x 10^(-2) kg = 0.0205 kg

Distance of compression; x = 8.01 × 10^(-2) m = 0.0801 m

Maximum height; h = 4.46 m

The formula for the energy in the spring is given by;

E = ½kx²

where:

k is the spring constant

x is the distance the spring is compressed.

Now, this energy of the spring will be equal to the energy of the pellet at its highest point. Energy of pallet = mgh So;

½kx² = mgh

Plugging in the relevant values, we have;

½ * k * 0.0801² = 0.0205 * 9.81 * 4.46

0.003208005k = 0.8969

k = 0.8969/0.003208005

k = 279.58 N/m