Suspension: Spring Constant Calculation for 500 kg Car

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pao44445
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Car Suspension
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the spring constant for a car's suspension system, given the weight of the car and an additional passenger. The problem involves understanding the forces acting on the car and how they relate to the displacement of the suspension.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between weight and spring displacement, questioning the initial calculations and the resulting spring constant values. There is a focus on the forces involved and the impact of the added weight on the suspension's response.

Discussion Status

The conversation has seen various attempts at calculating the spring constant, with participants revising their calculations based on the weight of the passenger and the resulting displacement. There is acknowledgment of errors in earlier calculations, and some participants express curiosity about the plausibility of the resulting values.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the displacement of 0.3 cm is directly related to the weight of the car and the passenger, and there is a focus on ensuring the calculations align with physical expectations for a car's suspension system.

Pao44445
Messages
47
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A guy is 60 kg and he gets in a car which is 500 kg. the center gravity of the car is 0.3 cm lower, find the spring constant of the suspension

Homework Equations


F = -kx
F = mg

The Attempt at a Solution



I got the answer but it s very low valve, the springs of the car should be high, don't they?
here 's my equation
There are 2 forces acting on the car, Weight and Restoring Force of springs then
mg = -kx
( 560 kg )( -9.8 m/s2 ) = - (k) ( 0.3x10-2 m )
 
Physics news on Phys.org
How low ?
 
BvU said:
How low ?
sorry,my mistake
I've re calculated it, I got a pretty high valve instead, does it this valve is possible?
k = ( 560 kg )( 9.8 m/s2 )( 102 ) / 0.3
k = 1829333.333 N/m
 
Not that low, then. But wrong.
There is one small thing: the 0.3 cm is caused by how many kilograms ?
 
60 kg of a man, oops
k = ( 60 kg )( 9.8 m/s2 )( 102 ) / 0.3
k = 196,000 N/m
 
Way to go ! Well done.
 

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
8K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K