A 0. 310 kg block of wood rests on a horizontal frictionless surface and is attached to a spring (also horizontal) with a 29. 0 N/m force constant that is at its equilibrium length. A 0. 0600 kg wad of Play-Doh is thrown horizontally at the block with a speed of 2. 80 m/s and sticks to it. Determine the amount in centimeters by which the PlayDoh-block system compresses the spring. Since the surface is frictionless, no external forces act during the collision and momentum is conserved. See if you can write a statement of conservation of that will allow you to determine an expression for the speed of the combined mass (Play-Doh and block of wood) the instant after the collision. Since only conservative forces do work during the compression of the spring, energy is conserved during the compression of the spring. Knowing the initial speed of the Play-Doh seck if you cal write an expression for the change in kinetic energy of the Play-Doh-block system as it is brought to rest. Since this decrease in kinetic energy of the Play-Doh-block systen shows up as an increase in the spring potential energy, see if you can use this knowledge to obtain an expression that will allow you to determine the compress of the spring.