Two blocks of masses m and 3m are placed on a frictionless,horizontal surface. A light spring is attached to the more massiveblock, and the blocks are pushed together with the spring betweenthem as shown in the figure below. A cord initially holding theblocks together is burned; after that happens, the block of mass 3mmoves to the right with a speed of v with arrow3m = 1.70 m/s.
(a) What is the velocity of the block of mass m? (Assume rightis positive and left is negative.) _____ m/s
(b) Find the system's original elastic potential energy, takingm = 0.380 kg. _____ J
(c) Is the original energy in the spring or in the cord? in thespring in the cord
(d) Explain your answer to part (c). .
(e) Is the momentum of the system conserved in thebursting-apart process? Yes No
(f) Explain how that is possible considering there are largeforces acting. (g) Explain how that is possible considering thereis no motion beforehand and plenty of motion afterward?
