Answer to Question #58429 in Mechanics | Relativity for Joshua

Question

A small glider is placed against a compressed spring at the bottom of an air track that slopes 40 degrees above the horizontal. The glider has a mass of 0.90 kg. The spring has a k = 640N/m and negligible mass. When the spring is released, the glider travels a maximum distance of 1.80 m along the air track before sliding back down. Before reaching this maximum distance, the glider losses contact with the spring.

What distance was the spring originally compressed?
When the glider has traveled along the track .80 m from its initial position against the compressed spring, is still in contact with the spring? What is he kinetic energy of he glider at this point?