Homework Statement
A heavy-duty stapling gun uses a 0.151-kg metal rod that rams against the staple to eject it. The rod is pushed by a stiff spring called a "ram spring" (k = 35007 N/m). The mass of this spring may be ignored. Squeezing the handle of the gun first compresses the ram spring by...
I have the same problem with different numbers. The distance is 5.0 km and the resistive force is 3.0 N. I solved using the equation W=(Fd)2 and got 30,000 J, but I do not understand how to determine if the resistive force is a conservative force. Help?