Question about spirngs their force

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of a spring connecting two boxes of different masses when released from a compressed state. Participants explore whether the force exerted by the spring on each box is dependent on their respective masses, considering concepts from Newton's laws of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if the force exerted by the spring on both boxes is the same or if it varies with mass.
  • Another participant references Newton's Third Law, stating that the force of the spring will be equal and opposite on both boxes, while noting that their accelerations will differ due to mass.
  • A third participant confirms that the accelerations of the boxes are indeed mass dependent.
  • A later reply suggests a practical experiment involving spring scales to compare the force readings with different masses, implying that this could provide insight into the relationship between force and mass.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the spring exerts equal and opposite forces on the boxes, but there is recognition that the resulting accelerations will differ due to the masses involved. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these forces in practical scenarios.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the system, such as frictionless conditions and the ideal behavior of the spring, are not explicitly stated. The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is acknowledged but not fully explored in terms of mathematical detail.

AFG34
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if there is a spring between two boxes of different masses, and the spring is compressed, with energy stored, then if the i let go of the boxes at exactly the same time, will the spring exert the same amount of force on both of the boxes? or does the force it exerts on the boxes is mass dependent?
 
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Think Newton's Third Law.

The force of the spring will be the same on both boxes, equal and opposite. Remember that the accelerations will still be different though.
 
yes, the accelerations are mass dependent.

Thank You.
 
AFG34 said:
if there is a spring between two boxes of different masses, and the spring is compressed, with energy stored, then if the i let go of the boxes at exactly the same time, will the spring exert the same amount of force on both of the boxes? or does the force it exerts on the boxes is mass dependent?

This is an easy experiment to try. Hook a spring scale onto a spring scale which is hooked onto a big mass (like the earth). Then hang a mass on the lower spring scale. How do the two readings compare to the mass?
 

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