View Full Version : Force by spring
western50
Feb 5, 2011, 11:11 PM
a 2 kg mass and a 3kg mass are on a horizontal frictionless surface, connected by a massless spring with spring constant k = 140 N/m. A 15 N force is applied to the larger mass. How much does the spring stretch from its equilibrium length? The masses uniformly accelerate with no oscillations.
I got the answer is change in x = 0.429 cm, am I right?
Unknown008
Feb 6, 2011, 03:59 AM
I get the same answer. Well done :)
ebaines
Feb 7, 2011, 08:13 AM
I get a slightly different answer. I calculate the tension in the spring to be 6N, so its extension is 6N/(140N/m) = 0.0429m, or 4.29cm.
Unknown008
Feb 7, 2011, 08:50 AM
I get a slightly different answer. I calculate the tension in the spring to be 6N, so its extension is 6N/(140N/m) = 0.0429m, or 4.29cm.
You're right, I think I misread my power of 10 in my calculator :(