Little help in mass on a spring

[Akibarika]

Homework Statement

a steel spring that it extends by 10cm in equilibrium when you attach the upper end of the spring to a fixed support and hang a weight of 100g at the lower end.

I want to know how to use the equation for the harmonic oscillator to determine the period of the up and down oscillation.

Homework Equations

F = -kx
F = ma

The Attempt at a Solution

I want to use F = ma and F = -kx
so ma = -kx
k = ma/-x
= 0.1*a/-0.1
= -a

but I don't know the a, is the a for 9.81? and maybe I was wrong in the beginning

Thanks a lot

 

[Doc Al]

Use Hooke's law (F = -kx) to find the spring constant. What force is exerted on the spring by the hanging mass?

 

[Akibarika]

so I can use F = mg
=> mg = -kx ?

is that right?

 

[Doc Al]

Yes, that's how you can find the spring constant.

 

[Akibarika]

thank you very much! cheers