Collision with spring compression

After collision, particles compress a spring; use conservation of momentum and energy (including elastic potential energy) to find maximum compression or other quantities.

1 questions · Challenging +1.2

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CAIE Further Paper 3 2021 November Q2
6 marks Challenging +1.2
A light spring \(AB\) has natural length \(a\) and modulus of elasticity \(5mg\). The end \(A\) of the spring is attached to a fixed point on a smooth horizontal surface. A particle \(P\) of mass \(m\) is attached to the end \(B\) of the spring. The spring and particle \(P\) are at rest on the surface. Another particle \(Q\) of mass \(km\) is moving with speed \(\sqrt{4ga}\) along the horizontal surface towards \(P\) in the direction \(BA\). The particles \(P\) and \(Q\) collide directly and coalesce. In the subsequent motion the greatest amount by which the spring is compressed is \(\frac{2}{3}a\). Find the value of \(k\). [6]