Question

A block of mass m (initially at rest) is dropped from a height h landing onto a spring with spring/force constant k. Determine the maximum distance y that the spring will be compressed?

Answer 1

$E_p=mgh,~E_s=\frac{ky^2}{2},$

$E_p=E_s,$

$y=\sqrt{\frac{2mgh}{k}}.$