Answer:
The spring is compressed 7.15 meters. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Explanation:
Let us assume that the mass of the car, m = 41000 kg         Â
Position of the tracks, h = 21 m
Spring constant of the spring, [tex]k=3.3\times 10^5\ N/m[/tex]acceleration due to gravity, [tex]g=9.8\ m/s^2[/tex]
Let the spring is compressed by a distance of x in stopping the ore car. In this case, the potential energy is balanced by the increase in spring potential energy such that :
[tex]mgh=\dfrac{1}{2}kx^2\\\\x=\sqrt{\dfrac{2mgh}{k}} \\\\x=\sqrt{\dfrac{2\times 41000\times 9.8\times 21}{3.3\times 10^5}} \\\\x=7.15\ m[/tex]
So, the spring is compressed 7.15 meters.