A toy gun uses a spring of force constant K. Before being triggered in the upward direction, the spring is compressed by a distance of x. If the mass of the shot is m, on being triggered, it will go up to a maximum height of :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
According to the law of conservation of energy,
Elastic potential energy stored in the spring = gravitational potential energy acquired by mass due to shot
\(\Rightarrow mgh = \frac{1}{2} Kx^2\)
\(\Rightarrow h = \frac{Kx^2}{2mg}\)