Answer:
The compression in the spring is 5.88 meters.
Explanation:
Given that,
Mass of the car, m = 39000 kg
Height of the car, h = 19 m
Spring constant of the spring, [tex]k=4.2\times 10^5\ N/m[/tex]
We need to find the compression in the spring in stopping the ore car. It can be done by balancing loss in gravitational potential energy and the increase in elastic energy. So,
[tex]mgh=\dfrac{1}{2}kx^2[/tex]
x is the compression in spring
[tex]x=\sqrt{\dfrac{2mgh}{k}} \\\\x=\sqrt{\dfrac{2\times 39000\times 19\times 9.8}{4.2\times 10^5}} \\\\x=5.88\ m[/tex]
So, the compression in the spring is 5.88 meters.