Two carts connected with a compressed spring are placed somewhere along a frictionless track of 4.0 m in length. One cart has a mass of 150 g, and the heavier cart has a mass of 275 g. The spring is released and the two carts move off toward the two ends of the track, reaching the ends at the same instant.
a) Which cart is initially closer to its end of the track, the light cart or the heavy cart?
b) If the heavy cart gains a velocity of 2.0 m/s, what is the velocity of the light cart?
c) How far from its end of the track is the heavy cart placed initially?
d) How much momentum is produced by the release of the spring?
e) How much kinetic energy is produced by the release of the spring?
f) Energy is always conserved. Where does the kinetic energy of the carts come from?
g) If the compression of the spring is increased, which of these answers a–f will change?