How Does Elevator Acceleration Affect Spring Extension?

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    Elevator Spring
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a mass suspended from a spring in an elevator. The scenario describes the spring's extension under different conditions: stationary and accelerating upward. Participants are exploring the relationship between elevator acceleration and spring extension.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of the spring's force constant and the implications of an accelerating frame of reference. Questions arise regarding the application of the equivalence principle and the balance of forces in the context of the problem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on considering the effects of acceleration on the spring's extension and suggested using free-body diagrams to analyze the forces involved. There is an ongoing exploration of how to apply these concepts to arrive at a solution.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express the need for the original poster to demonstrate prior attempts at solving the problem to facilitate more effective assistance. There is an indication of uncertainty regarding the next steps after calculating the spring constant.

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A 1.6kg mass is suspended from a string in a stationary elevator. The spring stretches 12cm. The elevator now accelerates upward, and the spring extends a further 12cm. What is the acceleration in the elevator?
 
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You should show you tried at least to solve the problem if you want an answer... if we know where you have the problem, we can help you understand it
 
Ignore this post
 
tia89 said:
You should show you tried at least to solve the problem if you want an answer... if we know where you have the problem, we can help you understand it

I tried to solve it, but I'm not succeeding. So far I have managed to calculate the force constant of the spring, but I don't know what to do next
 
Ok then, if you now have the force constant of the spring you can pass to the accelerated elevator case... what happens when you observe an accelerated frame? Remember the equivalence principle, stating that an acceleration in one direction is equivalent to an additional gravitational field in the opposite direction... which "apparent" gravitational field do you need to elongate the spring further? How do you balance all the forces to be stationary again?
 
nubshat said:
I tried to solve it, but I'm not succeeding. So far I have managed to calculate the force constant of the spring, but I don't know what to do next

Draw a free-body diagram for the mass and then use Newton 2.
 

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