How Do You Calculate Spring Constant for Launching a Satellite?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the spring constant required for launching a satellite with specific parameters, including mass, speed, and maximum acceleration. The subject area includes concepts from mechanics, particularly involving springs and forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest starting with the spring force equation and the elastic potential energy formula. There is also mention of using Newton's second law to relate force and acceleration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided initial equations and concepts that may guide the original poster in approaching the problem. However, there is no explicit consensus on a single method or solution path yet.

Contextual Notes

The problem includes specific constraints such as the mass of the satellite, desired speed, maximum acceleration, and assumptions about negligible factors like the spring's mass and energy changes. These constraints are central to the discussion but remain unresolved.

babbagee
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You are asked to design a spring that will give a 1160 kg satellite a speed of 2.85 m/s relative to an orbiting space shuttle. Your spring is to give the satellite a maximum acceleration of 5.00g. The spring's mass, the recoil kinetic energy of the shuttle, and changes in gravitational potential energy will all be negligible.

What must the force constant of the spring be?

What distance must the spring be compressed?

I don't know where to start with on this one. Can someone please start me off with this one.
 
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f = k (l - l0) would be a good place
 
Also, you might want to try EPE=1/2 kx
 
Since you are also given a max acceleration, F=ma would be worth noting as well.
 

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