How Does a Spring Constant Affect Circular Motion on a Frictionless Table?

  • Thread starter Thread starter acg7160
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Circular Constant
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a physics problem involving a 2.3 kg mass connected to a spring with a spring constant of 180 N/m on a frictionless air table. The mass is set in circular motion at a speed of 1.6 m/s, but the radius of its path is unknown due to missing information about the spring's extension. Participants note the relevance of the equations F=ma and F=kx, emphasizing the need to relate the centripetal force to the spring force. The challenge lies in determining the radius of the circular path based on the provided data. Understanding the spring's extension is crucial for solving the problem effectively.
acg7160
Messages
11
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A 2.3 kg mass is connected to a spring with spring constant k = 180 N/m and unstretched length 17 cm. The pair are mounted on a frictionless air table, with the free end of the spring attached to a frictionless pivot. The mass is set into circular motion at 1.6 m/s .


Homework Equations


F=ma=(mv^2)/r F=kx ...not really sure


The Attempt at a Solution


I don't know how to even start it :(
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What do you need to get in the first place?
 
oh sorry! the radius of its path.
 
acg7160 said:
oh sorry! the radius of its path.

well you were not given the extension so you are missing some information. You were correct in equation mv2/r to kx.
 
That's all I was given...
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Spring Problem Involving Variables and Constants Only
Replies
3
Views
1K
Finding the Length and Velocity of a Spring in Circular Motion
Replies
4
Views
2K
Circular motion of a rotational spring
Replies
12
Views
3K
Question about springs and rotational/translational energy
Replies
4
Views
1K
How do you know when k in Hooke's law is positive or negativ
Replies
2
Views
3K
How Far Will the Spring Compress in a Frictionless Collision?
Replies
3
Views
1K
Oscillation Problem -- Ball mass on the end of a horizontal spring
Replies
3
Views
1K
Finding Spring Constant & Energy w/ Doubt in Exercise
Replies
7
Views
2K
Newton's law problem: Pushing 2 stacked blocks on a horizontal table
Replies
13
Views
3K
Calculating spring constant of a spring loaded cannon
Replies
7
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top