How Does Jumping from a Height Affect the Reading on a Bathroom Scale?

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Jumping onto a bathroom scale from a height of 2.0 m affects the reading due to the conversion of gravitational potential energy into spring potential energy. The initial weight reading is 805 N, with the spring compressing 0.50 mm under this weight. At the peak compression, all gravitational potential energy (mgh) is converted into spring potential energy (1/2 kx^2). The correct approach involves setting mgh equal to the energy stored in the spring, rather than using F=kx directly. This discussion highlights the importance of understanding energy transformations in physics.
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If you stand on a bathroom scale, the spring inside the scale compresses 0.50 mm, and it tells you your weight is 805 N. Now if you jump on the scale from a height of 2.0 m, what does the scale read at its peak?

I used F=kx, and solved for k...but I don't know what to do after that...do I set

mgh=kx, where m is 805/9.8 and h is 2.0m?
 
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physicsss said:
I used F=kx, and solved for k...but I don't know what to do after that...do I set

mgh=kx, where m is 805/9.8 and h is 2.0m?

The idea is correct.
At the point where the spring is compressed the most, all gravitational potential energy has been converted to potential energy in the spring.

However, the energy stored in the spring is not kx.
 
mgh=1/2kx^2?
 
Yes, physicss
 

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