Spring problem-perpendicular force

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Homework Help Overview

The original poster seeks assistance with a problem involving a body suspended between two vertical springs in equilibrium. The task involves calculating the force required to pull the body horizontally, considering the angle formed with the vertical position of the springs. Additionally, the poster mentions a requirement to use a Taylor series, although the specific application of this series is unclear.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants discuss the application of Hooke's law and the geometry of the situation, suggesting that the force can be related to the change in length of the springs. Others mention the potential use of a Taylor series to approximate certain values, although the exact nature of the approximation is not specified.

Discussion Status

The discussion appears to be in its early stages, with some participants offering initial thoughts on the problem. There is a lack of detailed responses, and the original poster expresses frustration over the lack of replies. The conversation has not yet reached a consensus or clear direction regarding the use of the Taylor series.

Contextual Notes

The original poster indicates a lack of instruction from their teacher regarding the relationships involved when multiple springs are present and the implications of pulling them horizontally. This context may contribute to the uncertainty in the discussion.

racast5
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okay so i need help with the problem because my teacher gave it to us today and he doesn't teach the class anything.
it regards a body suspended in between two vertical springs, each in equilibrium, with length L.
he asked us to calculate the amount of required force to pull the body horizontally as if along the x axis, with regards to the angle (theta) with would be created by the initial vertical position of the spring and the new position. THEN he asked us to use a taylor series to show him, something, if anyone has any ideas what that series could prove..help? thanks
i just don't know where to start because he never explained the relations when more than one spring is involved, nor pulling them horizontally with a taylor series proof that that matter. the only equation i know is hooks equation f=-kx
 
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Welcome to PF!

racast5 said:
it regards a body suspended in between two vertical springs, each in equilibrium, with length L.
he asked us to calculate the amount of required force to pull the body horizontally as if along the x axis, with regards to the angle (theta) with would be created by the initial vertical position of the spring and the new position. THEN he asked us to use a taylor series to show him, something, if anyone has any ideas what that series could prove..help? thanks
… the only equation i know is hooks equation f=-kx

Hi racast5! Welcome to PF! :smile:

You can still use Hooke's law …

the force will still be kx, where the x is the new length of the spring minus its original length …

in other words, you have a thin right-angled triangle, and x is the difference in length between the hyptoneuse and the side. :smile:

Since this will be √(1 + something), you can use a Taylor series to approximate it. :smile:
 
I still can't get a reply from anyone. Who is out there?
Dev
 
the mother-ship has left us …

devon cook said:
I still can't get a reply from anyone. Who is out there?
Dev

There is no-one out there …

we are all alone! :redface:​
 
You may be right TT. You may be right. Anyway, it's good to make some sort of contact at last. I've been playing around with the maths of a frictionless bead sliding down a parabola y=0.5(x-1)^2 . I got a messy result for its velocity but can't get the same using Hamiltonian mechanics. Anyone done this?
Dev
 
Welcome to PF!

devon cook said:
I've been playing around with the maths of a frictionless bead sliding down a parabola y=0.5(x-1)^2 . I got a messy result for its velocity but can't get the same using Hamiltonian mechanics. Anyone done this?
Dev

Hi Dev! Welcome to PF! :smile:

I'm no good at Hamiltonian mechanics. :frown:

You'd better start a new thread (press the NEW TOPIC button on the sub-forum index page), and put the question there (title it "Hamiltonian mechanics").

(that's because hardly anyone new will look at a thread once it's had several replies :wink: … which, incidentally, is a good reason not to "bump" your threads)
 
Thanks TT,
But I can't find the "sub-forum index page" anywhere.
Dev
 
click!

Hi Dev! :smile:

Go to the top of this page, where it says

Physics Help and Math Help - Physics Forums > Science Education > Homework & Coursework Questions > Introductory Physics

and click on the last one! :smile:
 

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