Suppose a spring has a relaxed length of 28.3 cm. The simulation refers to this as the natural length. This is the length of the spring when it is not stretched nor compressed by any force. When you hang a mass of 550 g on the vertical spring, the spring stretches to a new length of 38.2 cm. What is an estimate of the spring constant, k, of the spring? (Enter your answer in N/m.) Measuring only one value is not a good way to get the value, but you can an idea of the approximate size.

Question

Physics

Catherine Lang

15 November, 03:15

Suppose a spring has a relaxed length of 28.3 cm. The simulation refers to this as the natural length. This is the length of the spring when it is not stretched nor compressed by any force. When you hang a mass of 550 g on the vertical spring, the spring stretches to a new length of 38.2 cm. What is an estimate of the spring constant, k, of the spring? (Enter your answer in N/m.) Measuring only one value is not a good way to get the value, but you can an idea of the approximate size.

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Answers (1)

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Troy Henderson · Answer 1

Normal length of spring = 28.3 cm

stretched length of spring = 38.2 cm

length of extension = 38.2 - 28.3 = 9.9 cm

= 9.9 x 10⁻² m

force applied to stretch =.55 x 9.8 (mg)

= 5.39 N

Force constant = force applied / extension

= 5.39 / 9.9 x 10⁻²

=.5444 x 10² N / m

= 54.44 N/m