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title: "A block of mass \\(m\\) on a horizontal surface is connected to an ideal spring of force constant \\(k\\), whose other end is fixed to a rigid vertical wall. The surface exerts a constant kinetic friction force of magnitude \\(f_k = \\mu_k m g\\) on the block, and air resistance is negligible. The block is pulled to an initial displacement \\(x = x_0\\) (where \\(k x_0 > \\mu_s m g\\)) and released from rest at time \\(t = 0\\). Which of the following graphs best represents the position \\(x\\) of the block as a function of time \\(t\\) as it oscillates?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124366/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T14:04:59+00:00"
---

# A block of mass \(m\) on a horizontal surface is connected to an ideal spring of force constant \(k\), whose other end is fixed to a rigid vertical wall. The surface exerts a constant kinetic friction force of magnitude \(f_k = \mu_k m g\) on the block, and air resistance is negligible. The block is pulled to an initial displacement \(x = x_0\) (where \(k x_0 > \mu_s m g\)) and released from rest at time \(t = 0\). Which of the following graphs best represents the position \(x\) of the block as a function of time \(t\) as it oscillates?

A block of mass \(m\) on a horizontal surface is connected to an ideal spring of force constant \(k\), whose other end is fixed to a rigid vertical wall. The surface exerts a constant kinetic friction force of magnitude \(f_k = \mu_k m g\) on the block, and air resistance is negligible. The block is pulled to an initial displacement \(x = x_0\) (where \(k x_0 > \mu_s m g\)) and released from rest at time \(t = 0\). Which of the following graphs best represents the position \(x\) of the block as a function of time \(t\) as it oscillates?

![A schematic drawing of a horizontal mass-spring oscillator. On the left is a vertical wall represented by a vertical line with diagonal hatch marks behind it to the left. An ideal horizontal spring extends to the right from the wall and connects to the left face of a rectangular block labeled m. The block rests on a straight horizontal surface with diagonal hatch marks beneath it to indicate friction. A label k sits directly above the middle of the spring. Below the surface, an arrow labeled x points horizontally to the right, showing the positive coordinate direction. A dashed vertical tick mark on the surface marks the equilibrium position labeled 0. The block is shown displaced to the right of equilibrium at position x_0. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1790604297-b3a3Tw.jpg)

- **A.** Graph A
- **B.** Graph B
- **C.** Graph C
- **D.** Graph D

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124366/*