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Physics

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  • $\begingroup$ Conservation of ME is a subset of Work Energy theorem. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 10, 2020 at 20:41
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ You just have to split it up: before the spring starts being compressed and during. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 10, 2020 at 20:42
  • $\begingroup$ Splitting is just applying it twice; can i not do it in one go? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 10, 2020 at 20:56
  • $\begingroup$ Yes you can: the energy stored in the system (either potential, kinetic) is conserved thus you can apply the theorem. Hint: the potential energy at the beginning will be the same as the potential energy at the end when the spring is compressed ;) $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 10, 2020 at 21:03
  • $\begingroup$ Do you intend to consider the contact with the spring as an inelastic collision, or is the mass of the spring negligible? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 11, 2020 at 3:22