Calculating the Force of a Stretched Spring: A Scientific Approach

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the force exerted by a spring that has been stretched beyond its natural length, specifically focusing on the work done in stretching the spring and the relationship between force, spring constant, and displacement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between work, force, and displacement, questioning the validity of using a constant force in the context of a spring. They explore the need for integration to account for the variable force in a spring system.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants offering guidance on using integrals to find the spring constant and questioning the assumptions made about the force. Some participants have provided calculations and suggested methods for determining the spring constant, while others express confusion about the setup.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of needing to convert units from centimeters to meters, indicating a potential constraint in the problem setup. Participants are also grappling with the implications of using different approaches to calculate the force and spring constant.

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Work of 5 Joules is done in stretching a spring from its natural length to 13 cm beyond its natural length. What is the force (in Newtons) that holds the spring stretched at the same distance (13 cm)?


here's what i done:

W = F * D
5 = F * 13
F = 5/13
F = kx
5/13 = k(13)
k = 5/39

[tex]\int_{0}^{13} 5/39 *x dx[/tex]

i'm really confuse about this problem
 
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ProBasket said:
Work of 5 Joules is done in stretching a spring from its natural length to 13 cm beyond its natural length. What is the force (in Newtons) that holds the spring stretched at the same distance (13 cm)?


here's what i done:

W = F * D
5 = F * 13
F = 5/13
F = kx
5/13 = k(13)
k = 5/39

[tex]\int_{0}^{13} 5/39 *x dx[/tex]

i'm really confuse about this problem

Remember that the force depends on x. So using W=F*D does not work since the force is not constant. You need to use the integral.

Use:
[tex]W = \int_{0}^{13} k *x dx[/tex]
to figure out k.

Then get the force.
 
F = kx

from this the only thing i have is X, how would i found out k?
 
ProBasket said:
F = kx

from this the only thing i have is X, how would i found out k?

To get k, use the integral:
[tex]W = \int_{0}^{13} k *x dx[/tex]

Solve the integral on the right side. What do you get?
Then substitude W=5 on the left side.

Now you should be able to get k.
 
5=169/2*k
k = 10/169

would i have to setup another integral?

[tex]\int_{0}^{13} 10/169 *x dx[/tex]

i get 5 if i solve that integral
 
ProBasket said:
5=169/2*k
k = 10/169

would i have to setup another integral?

[tex]\int_{0}^{13} 10/169 *x dx[/tex]

i get 5 if i solve that integral

I'm sorry. You need to convert to meters.

So
[tex]W = \int_{0}^{0.13} k *x dx[/tex]

I get k=591.7 N/m

Then F=kx=591.7* 0.13=76.92N
 
thanks a lot!
 

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