A spring is used as a bumper to keep trucks from running into a loading dock. The spring has constant is k and is designed for a truck of mass M initially moving with speed vi. When the truck hits the bumper, the spring compresses the designed distance Δxd in stopping the truck. Assume friction can be neglected. There will be a problem with this design if the truck hits the bumper with a greater speed, vnew . You want to determine the speed of the truck, vf, when the spring is compressed the distance Δxd if the initial speed of the truck is vnew. A) Define the system and identify all the energies and all work. B) Write an energy equation that can be solved for the spring constant k. C) If vnew > vi write an energy equation that can be solved for the speed of the truck when the spring is compressed a distance Δx. D). What is vf of the truck when the spring is compressed the design distance, Δxd?
