A box with two springs on a frictionless table

[BrainMan]

Homework Statement

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

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I'm having trouble visualizing what is going on in this problem. I imagine that the box is in a position like this with a spring on each end of the box. Then a force F is applied that compresses the springs. What I'm wondering is: How does the force parallel to the springs compresses both springs? It would seem that one would be compressed, while the other would not be effected.

 

[gneill]

The springs are attached to the box, so if the box moves, the attached ends of the springs move with it. The outer ends of the springs are clamped to some fixed supports. So when the box moves, one spring is compressed while the other is stretched.

 

[BrainMan]

The springs are attached to the box, so if the box moves, the attached ends of the springs move with it. The outer ends of the springs are clamped to some fixed supports. So when the box moves, one spring is compressed while the other is stretched.

So more like this? Where the black rectangles are the supports?

 

[gneill]

Yup. Here's my version:

 

[CRobinson]

Hi, going back to this. Wouldn't the spring constant just be 2.6N/.3m? Making it 8.66 N/m? Why is this wrong, do I need to take into account another spring?

 

[haruspex]

Hi, going back to this. Wouldn't the spring constant just be 2.6N/.3m? Making it 8.66 N/m? Why is this wrong, do I need to take into account another spring?

1. The force is 2N, not 2.6N
2. The displacement is 3cm., not 30cm.
3. There are two springs. What force does each exert?

 

[dgood]

I need more clarification on this; there's only one force and one distance unit for the motion of two springs, would those two springs traveling in opposite directions not cancel out? I've tried the difference and the sum, nothing is right.

 

[kuruman]

I need more clarification on this; there's only one force and one distance unit for the motion of two springs, would those two springs traveling in opposite directions not cancel out? I've tried the difference and the sum, nothing is right.

Look at the drawing in #4. In what direction is the force from the left spring that is compressed? What about the force from the right spring that is stretched? This should tell you whether the forces cancel out.