A box with two springs on a frictionless table

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a box situated on a frictionless table with two springs attached at either end. A force is applied to the box, leading to questions about how this force affects the compression and stretching of the springs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the mechanics of how the applied force affects both springs, questioning whether one spring compresses while the other remains unaffected. There are inquiries about the calculation of the spring constant and the implications of having two springs in the system.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the setup of the problem and clarifying the roles of the springs. Some participants are exploring the implications of the forces exerted by each spring, while others are questioning the calculations related to the spring constant.

Contextual Notes

There are discrepancies in the values used for force and displacement, and participants are grappling with the implications of two springs acting in opposite directions. The original poster expresses confusion regarding the interaction of the springs under the applied force.

BrainMan
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Homework Statement


upload_2016-10-17_21-22-10.png


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.
upload_2016-10-17_21-26-45.png
 

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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.
 
gneill said:
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?

upload_2016-10-17_21-37-39.png
 
Yup. Here's my version:

upload_2016-10-17_21-40-13.png
 
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?
 
CRobinson said:
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?
 
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.
 
dgood said:
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.
 

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