The apparatus above is used to study conservation of mechanical energy. A spring of force constant 40 N/m is held horizontal over a horizontal air track, with one end attached to the air track. A light string is attached to the other end of the spring and connects it to a glider of mass m . The glider is pulled to stretch the spring an amount x from equilibrium and then released. Before reaching the photogate, the glider attains its maximum speed and the string becomes slack. The photogate measures the time t that it takes the small block on top of the glider to pass through. Information about the distance x and the speed v of the glider as it passes through the photogate are given below