A 2-kg block is released from rest and allowed to slide down a frictionless surface and into a spring. The far end of the spring is attached to a wall, as shown. The initial height of the block is 0.5 m above the lowest part of the slide and the spring constant is 450 N/m.
(a) What is the block's speed when it is at a height of 0.25 m above the base of the slide?
(b) How far is the spring compressed?
(c) The spring sends the block back to the left. How high does the block rise?