# Energy and force question

1. Apr 23, 2015

### Mr Davis 97

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

An archer pulls a bowstring back 0.440 m, and the spring constant of the bow is 545 N/m. Find the amount of work the archer did to draw the bow.

2. Relevant equations

F = ma
Ei = Ef

3. The attempt at a solution

It seems as though there are two ways of doing this: using Newton's laws or using conservation of energy.

a) Newton's laws:

W = Fd

F = -kx = 240 N

d = 0.440 m

W = Fd = 106 J

b) Conservation of energy

Ei = Ef

Wapply = Ufinal

Wapply = (1/2)kx2 = 53 J

As one can see, these are two different answers. In fact, the latter is exactly half of the former. What am I doing wrong? Is either answer even right?

2. Apr 23, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

This is incorrect. This calculation assumes the force is constant, but it's not: it varies from 0 to the maximum value.

This is correct.

If you find the work correctly, by integrating $\int F dx$ since F is not constant, you'll get the same answer as you did in (b).

(Since the force varies linearly, you can cheat a bit and use the average force times the distance. The average force is 1/2 of the max force, so that will also give you the correct answer.)

3. Apr 23, 2015

### sk1105

Was just writing pretty much what Doc Al said. You'll also notice that in your first method, W = Fd = Fx = -kx^2 ...twice your second answer.