Serway & Jewett — Energy of a System: Problem 14.

A light spring with force constant $3.85\text{ N/m}$ is compressed by $8.00\text{ cm}$ as it is held between a $0.250\text{-kg}$ block on the left and a $0.500\text{-kg}$ block on the right, both resting on a horizontal surface. The spring exerts a force on each block, tending to push the blocks apart. The blocks are simultaneously released from rest. Find the acceleration with which each block starts to move, given that the coefficient of kinetic friction between each block and the surface is (a) $0$, (b) $0.100$, and (c) $0.462$.