Does each cart in Example 5.9 get half of the spring's energy? Why or why not?

Data from Example 5.9 

A \(0.25-\mathrm{kg}\) cart is held at rest against a compressed spring as in Figure \(5.8 a\) and then released. The cart's speed after it separates from the spring is \(2.5 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\). The spring is then compressed by the same amount between a \(0.25-\mathrm{kg}\) cart and a \(0.50-\mathrm{kg}\) cart, as shown in Figure 5.22a, and the carts are released from rest. What are the carts' speeds after separating from the spring?

Transcribed Image Text:

Figure 5.8 Initial and final energies for two choices of system. (a) Expanding spring accelerates cart from rest wwwwww Spring relaxed Spring compressed (b) Initial and final energies: system cart only K Emi Cart speeds up." K Ei K+K+Bif (c) Initial and final energies: system cart + spring K Einzi = K+Enti K+ Eintf State of cart doesn't change. Spring expands. AK K Einci