Determining Natural Length of a Spring

[TG3]

Homework Statement

If 6 J of work is needed to stretch a spring from 10 cm to 12 cm, and another 10 J is needed to stretch it from 10 to 12 cm, what is the natural length of the spring?

Homework Equations

W=FD
Hooke's Law

The Attempt at a Solution

Honestly, I stare at this problem and am at a loss as to where to start, and there are no examples in the book like this. Obviously I'm not asking for answers because I know the rules here, we're supposed to show effort; but if someone gave me some starting help it would be much appreciated.

 

[LowlyPion]

Homework Statement

If 6 J of work is needed to stretch a spring from 10 cm to 12 cm, and another 10 J is needed to stretch it from 10 to 12 cm, what is the natural length of the spring?

Homework Equations

W=FD
Hooke's Law

The Attempt at a Solution

Honestly, I stare at this problem and am at a loss as to where to start, and there are no examples in the book like this. Obviously I'm not asking for answers because I know the rules here, we're supposed to show effort; but if someone gave me some starting help it would be much appreciated.

Consider

PE = 1/2*k*x²

 

[Doc Al]

Homework Statement

If 6 J of work is needed to stretch a spring from 10 cm to 12 cm, and another 10 J is needed to stretch it from 10 to 12 cm, what is the natural length of the spring?

Looks like you have a typo in the problem statement.

Hint: Call the unstretched length of the spring L. How do you determine the work done to stretch a spring? (What's the expression for spring potential energy?)