- #1
chattymatty
- 2
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Hello!
I am having trouble with a simple concept...trying to figure out the signs of net force of a mass on a spring.
I understand that for a mass on the spring, there is a downward force of gravity (mg) and upwards restoring force of the (-kx). How do we equate these, if we regard the positive direction in the same direction as gravity? How would we equate these, if we, in contrast, regard the positive direction in the same direction as the restoring force?
I believe that the final conclusion will be mg = kx. But where are the signs? How did the signs cancel out?
Thank you!
Chatty Matty
I am having trouble with a simple concept...trying to figure out the signs of net force of a mass on a spring.
I understand that for a mass on the spring, there is a downward force of gravity (mg) and upwards restoring force of the (-kx). How do we equate these, if we regard the positive direction in the same direction as gravity? How would we equate these, if we, in contrast, regard the positive direction in the same direction as the restoring force?
I believe that the final conclusion will be mg = kx. But where are the signs? How did the signs cancel out?
Thank you!
Chatty Matty