Acceleration of mass on a spring

AI Thread Summary
To determine the acceleration of a 2.0 kg mass on a compressed spring, start by using Hooke's Law, F = -kx, where k is the spring constant. Even without a numerical value for k, you can express the force in terms of k by considering the gravitational force acting on the mass, F = mg. By substituting k with mg/x, where x is the compression distance, you can find the force exerted by the spring. Finally, apply Newton's second law, F = ma, to solve for the acceleration of the mass after the spring is released. This approach allows you to derive the acceleration in terms of the spring constant and the compression distance.
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Homework Statement


A 2.0 kg mass is placed on top of a vertical spring, which compresses to a new equilibrium position; the spring is then compressed from this new equilibrium position by a distance of 0.05 m. What will be the acceleration of the mass just after the spring is released from this position?

I don't really know where to start. The only equation I can find that is relevant is F= -kx. But no spring constant is given. Any help please?
 
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All I'm really asking for here is the starting point. I think I can do it from there, I just don't know where to get started from.
 
It doesn't matter if they don't give you a numerical value for k. It means your answer will depends of k.
 
So what do I do then. Consider that k=mg/x? then from there I can find the force. Then set that value to F=ma?
 

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