A block of mass 'm' moving on a frictionless horizontal surface collides with a spring of spring constant 'K' and compresses it through a distance 'x'. The maximum momentum of the block after collision is

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By the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, the maximum kinetic energy of the block is equal to the maximum potential energy stored in the spring at maximum compression. p^2 2m = 1 2 K x^2 p^2 = m K x^2 p = m K x The maximum momentum of the block after the collision is equal in magnitude to its initial momentum, which is m K x . Answer: km x