Will a Spring Move Back to Its Original Position After Being Stretched and Held?

[Greywolfe1982]

Homework Statement

A wave is sent along a long spring by rabidly moving the left end to the right and keeping it there. I'm then asked to determine whether or not the spring will move forward and bounce back to its original place or if it will move forward and stay there. I'm given no actual data.

Homework Equations

As far as I know, none. I'm simply asking how a spring moves.

The Attempt at a Solution

I thought that the spring would move forward and stay there (and this is what happened when I did it with a slinky), but I wanted to make sure before I submitted my answer.

 

[anathema]

Thank you for your question. I can provide you with some information to help you understand how a spring moves.

Firstly, it is important to note that when a spring is stretched or compressed, it exerts a force in the opposite direction to restore its original shape. This is known as Hooke's Law, which states that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the distance it is stretched or compressed.

In the scenario you described, the left end of the spring is moved rapidly to the right and kept there. This will create a compression in the spring, causing it to exert a force in the opposite direction towards its original shape. As a result, the spring will move forward and then bounce back to its original place.

However, the exact behavior of the spring will also depend on various factors such as the material and thickness of the spring, as well as the speed and force with which it is moved. Without specific data, it is difficult to accurately predict the exact movement of the spring.

I hope this helps to clarify your understanding of how a spring moves. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Keep up the curiosity and keep exploring!



Scientist

 

[thomate1]

It is difficult to determine the exact movement of the spring without any data or specific parameters. However, based on the information provided, it is likely that the spring will move forward and stay there. This is because the left end is being rapidly moved to the right and held in place, creating a disturbance that will travel along the spring. This disturbance will eventually reach the right end, causing it to move forward as well. The spring will then remain in this new position unless another force is applied to it.