Calculating Impact Force & Duration from Spring Pressure

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the impact force and duration when using spring pressure to launch an object. Participants explore the dynamics of a spring mechanism, including the effects of preload and the specifics of the launch scenario, while acknowledging the role of friction but choosing not to include it in their calculations at this stage.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a formula for impact force and duration, providing details about the mass of the object, spring force, and push length, while noting the complexity added by friction.
  • Another participant describes the spring mechanism as a captured spring with preload, indicating that the spring does not extend beyond its original preload when launching the object.
  • A third participant questions whether the scenario involves projectile motion and asks for clarification on the time of flight and impact force with the ground.
  • A fourth participant likens the scenario to a pinball machine launch, introducing a wall that the ball impacts, and requests a method to calculate the ball's speed upon impact.
  • A fifth participant suggests calculating the impulse exerted by the spring on the ball, stating that this impulse equals the change in momentum of the ball, and proposes using average force and time to estimate impact momentum and speed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and interpretation of the scenario, with some seeking clarification while others propose methods for calculation. No consensus is reached on a specific formula or approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the influence of friction but choose not to factor it into their current calculations. The discussion lacks specific numerical values or detailed assumptions regarding the spring's characteristics and the object's mass.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in mechanics, particularly those dealing with spring dynamics, impact calculations, or related engineering applications may find this discussion relevant.

Matt_B
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First off, i don't know if this is the right section for this, just thought i would try though...


Here is my problem. I need a formula for impact force and duration when using spring pressure. I have the mass of the object in grams, the force of the spring, and the push length. Now i do understand that friction comes into play, but at this time i am not wanting to figure that it. Is there anyone that can help me on this one?

oh, i also have the spring pressure at the beginning of push, and the end of push, if that matters

Any other info you might need, let me know, i will try my best to provide it. :)

Thank you in advance
 
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Let me describe this a lil more.

Basically what i have is a captured spring that has a preload on it. Then i pull it back a little bit more and then release it. It does not extend past the original preload but it is launching an object and the object travels a little bit further before reaching impact. I really do not know how better to describe the situation.

Any help on this would be very appreciated. I have spent a while searching for information to help me solve this, and i have not been able to find anything. I thought i would give yall a shot :)
 
I don't quite understand the situation, you're firing the object with a spring right? Is this in the air like projectile motion and you want to know the time of flight and impact force with the ground?
 
Think of it more like a pinball machine launch. Only say there is a wall that is .100" infront of the ball. Now how do you figure out the speed of the ball when it would impact that wall when you retract the spring and let it fly?

That is the best example i have.
 
Ok, well you would need to find the impulse exerted by the spring on the ball and use the fact that this is equal to the change in momentum of the ball. Over such a short distance friction wouldn't really come into play significantly.

Since you have the force at the beginning and end of the push i take it you have some information on the time taken for the push. The impulse can be estimated by the average force multiplied by this time. This would give you an estimate of the impact momentum and hence the speed. Hope that helps
 

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