A block with mass m is attached to an ideal spring that has force constant k.
(a) The block moves from x, to x" where x, > x,. How much work does the spring force do during this disparagement?
(b) The block moves from XI to X2 and then from x, to XI. How much work does the spring force do during the displacement from X2 to x,? What is the total work done by the spring during the entire x, -> X2 -> x, displacement? Explain why you got the answer you did.
(c) The block moves from XI to X3, where X3 > Xz. How much work does the spring force do during this displacement? The block then moves from X3 to Xz. How much work does the spring force do during this displacement? What is the total work done by the spring force during the XI -> X3 -> Xz displacement? Compare your answer to the answer in part (a), where the starting and ending points are the same but the path is different