Magnetic plus gravitation force

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a circuit with springs and a magnetic field. The user initially miscalculated the spring constant using the gravitational constant instead of the acceleration due to gravity, leading to a significant error in determining the magnetic field's magnitude. After correcting this mistake, the user recalculates and finds the magnetic field to be 0.588 Tesla, aligning with the book's answer. The importance of using the correct gravitational acceleration in such calculations is emphasized. This highlights the critical nature of precision in physics problem-solving.
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[SOLVED] magnetic plus gravitation force

Homework Statement



A circuit consists of wires at the top and bottom and identical metal springs in the left and right sides. the upper portion of the circuit is fixed and has a 24 v battery and 12 ohm resistance. the wire at the bottom has a mass of 10 grams and is 5 cm long. the springs stretch 0.5 cm under the weight of the wire. when a magnetic field is turned on, directed out of the page, the springs stretch an additional .3 cm. what is the magnitude of the magnetic field.

Homework Equations

F = -kx, I = v/r = 2 Amps, F = ma = mg; F sub B = IL x B



The Attempt at a Solution


solving for K before the magnetic field is turned on: there are two upward forces from the springs, and one downward force from gravity and mass
-2kx = - mg
substitute -2 (-.005 m)(k) = (-.01kg)(6.673 x 10 -11)
k = 6.673 x 10 -12
springs are in equilibrium between 2 kx forces and mg force

now magnetic field is turned on and you have 2 -kx's and F sub B, where springs stretch another 0.3 cm or .003 meters
-2 (6.673 x 10 -12)(.003) = F sub b = IL x B = (2 A) (5 cm) x B
so B = (4.00 x 10 - 14)/(2)(.05) = 4.0 x 10 - 13 tesla

but the book answer is .588 Tesla - i am only off by a factor of a trillion or so

this should be easy but i am missing a big factor

 
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magnetic plus gravitation force Picture

i've attached a picture of the problem. i can't figure out how i could be so far off? what element of the problem am i missing?
 

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Magnetic plus gravitation solved

well i was using the Big G gravitational constant instead of little g acceleration = 9.8 meters/sec
 
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