---
title: "One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \\(h\\) above the floor. A block of mass \\(M\\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \\(x\\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \\(D\\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \\(M, x, D, h,\\) and any constants."
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/21978/"
date_modified: "2025-10-04T15:40:52+00:00"
---

# One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.

One end of a spring is attached to a solid wall while the other end just reaches to the edge of a horizontal, frictionless tabletop, which is a distance \(h\) above the floor. A block of mass \(M\) is placed against the end of the spring and pushed toward the wall until the spring has been compressed a distance \(x\). The block is released and strikes the floor a horizontal distance \(D\) from the edge of the table. Air resistance is negligible. Derive expressions for the following quantities only in terms of \(M, x, D, h,\) and any constants.

**Part a)** The time elapsed from the instant the block leaves the table to the instant it strikes the floor. *(3 points)*

**Part b)** The horizontal component of the velocity of the block just before it hits the floor. *(3 points)*

**Part c)** The work done on the block by the spring. *(3 points)*

**Part d)** The spring constant. *(3 points)*


*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/21978/*