What Does the Scale Read at Its Peak When You Jump from 1.3m?

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When jumping onto a bathroom scale from a height of 1.3m, the scale will read a peak force due to the conversion of kinetic and gravitational potential energy into elastic potential energy. The spring constant can be determined from the scale's compression of 0.55mm at a weight of 760 N. To find the peak reading, calculate the total energy of the system using E = mgh, then equate it to the elastic potential energy formula Eep = 0.5 kx² to solve for compression x. Finally, substitute x back into F = kx to determine the force the scale reads at its peak. This approach effectively combines energy principles to solve the problem.
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Homework Statement



If you stand on a bathroom scale, the spring inside the scale compresses 0.55mm, and it tells you your weight is 760 N.
Now if you jump on the scale from a height of 1.3m, what does the scale read at its peak?

Homework Equations


F=kx
K.E=1/2mv^2


The Attempt at a Solution


I tried a lot of things but i can't get the answer
 
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I tried a lot of things but i can't get the answer
Try more... :smile:

Well one more equation you need to know

Elastic potential energy = Eep = 0.5 kx2

I'm sure you know how to get the spring constant, k
And then find the total energy of the system E = mgh

then substitute the E value you got to the equation
Eep = 0.5 kx2 to find x

(at the "peak", all of the kinetic energy + gravitational potential energy is converted to elastic potential energy)

then since you know the x (compression) at the peak value
substitute to F = kx to get the F value for the scale value it reads

That's what i would do.
I can very well be wrong
 
Very well explained, V_B!
 
Thx LOL ^^
 
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