A glider of mass m is free to slide along a horizontal air track. It is pushed against a launcher at one end of the track. Model the launcher as a light spring of force constant k compressed by a distance x. The glider is released from rest.
(a) Show that the glider attains a speed of v = x (k/m) 1/2.
(b) Does a glider of large or of small mass attain a greater speed?
(c) Show that the impulse imparted to the glider is given by the expression x (km) 1/2.
(d) Is a greater impulse injected into a large or a small mass?
(e) Is more work done on a large or a small mass?