What did I do wrong? 2 tests questions ( work and force questions )

  • Thread starter Thread starter polarbearkids
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Force Work
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around two physics problems related to work and force. The first problem involves calculating the work required to launch a 100-kg object to a height of 2,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface. The second problem concerns a 10 kg person jumping on a mattress with a specified spring constant and amplitude, requiring the determination of the maximum force exerted on the mattress.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between work and potential energy, questioning the validity of using the formula for gravitational potential energy at large heights. There is also discussion about the appropriateness of the equations used in the second problem, particularly regarding the spring constant and the method of calculating force.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided clarifications regarding the spring constant and its units, while others are questioning the assumptions made in the calculations. The discussion is ongoing, with various interpretations and approaches being explored without a clear consensus on the correct methods or solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the approximation for potential energy may not hold due to the significant height involved, and there is a mention of the need for a different approach using gravitational potential energy equations that account for distance from the Earth's center. Additionally, there is confusion regarding the units of the spring constant, which has been clarified in the discussion.

polarbearkids
Messages
6
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


1 question: How much work must be done to launch a 100-kg object to a height of 2 x 10^3 kilometer above the Earth's surface?

2.A person with the mass of 10 kg jumps up and down on her mattress with a spring constant of 4.3 nK.m. She does this by applying a sinusoidal force at a frequency of 1 Hz. Assuming no dampening force exists, if her amplitude is 3 cm, what is the maximum force she places on the mattress?

by the way, these are the only one I completely missed. He took off the maximum amount : ( And I still have no idea how to solve them. So I'm just wondering.

The Attempt at a Solution


1 question ( my attempt ) - okay, first I thought I would use the Vesc equation, but I simply got velocity out of it and I didn't know how to go from velocity to work. Then I had the idea, I would simply use the fact work is independent of the path and work = the change in potential energy
so mgh = work thus, 100kg x 9.8m/s^2 x 2x10^6 mThus, I got 1.96 x 10^9 joules. Now, I knew this was too simply to be right, but I am still confused why this is the case. Why can't I use the fact work equals the change in potential energy in this case?

2 question: I used the equation A = (Fsmall o / m) /( w^2 - wsmall o ^2) and solved for w^2. then used the fact the max acceleration = Aw^2. Then to get the force. I simply used F=ma. and got 13N
So, why is this wrong? I'm pretty sure, I converted to all the correct units. But, again, I thought this was too easy. Did I use an equation that wasn't applicable?

Thanks in advance!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
polarbearkids said:

Homework Statement


1 question: How much work must be done to launch a 100-kg object to a height of 2 x 10^3 kilometer above the Earth's surface?

2.A person with the mass of 10 kg jumps up and down on her mattress with a spring constant of 4.3 nK.m. She does this by applying a sinusoidal force at a frequency of 1 Hz. Assuming no dampening force exists, if her amplitude is 3 cm, what is the maximum force she places on the mattress?

by the way, these are the only one I completely missed. He took off the maximum amount : ( And I still have no idea how to solve them. So I'm just wondering.

The Attempt at a Solution


1 question ( my attempt ) - okay, first I thought I would use the Vesc equation, but I simply got velocity out of it and I didn't know how to go from velocity to work. Then I had the idea, I would simply use the fact work is independent of the path and work = the change in potential energy
so mgh = work thus, 100kg x 9.8m/s^2 x 2x10^6 mThus, I got 1.96 x 10^9 joules. Now, I knew this was too simply to be right, but I am still confused why this is the case. Why can't I use the fact work equals the change in potential energy in this case?
P.E.=mgΔh is only valid for the approximation that $$Δh<<R_{earth}$$
You need to use ##ΔU=-Gm1m2/R^2##
 
polarbearkids said:
2.A person with the mass of 10 kg jumps up and down on her mattress with a spring constant of 4.3 nK.m.


What kind of spring constant is that? Do you mean 4.3 N/m??
 
If the amplitude is 3 cm, and the frequency is 1 Hz, then represent the displacement at time t by:

x = 3 sin(2πt) (cm)
With this representation of the displacement, what is the velocity v in cm/sec?
What is the acceleration a in cm/sec2?
 
rude man said:
What kind of spring constant is that? Do you mean 4.3 N/m??

Yup. sorry! kN/m kiloNewtons per meter
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 57 ·
2
Replies
57
Views
5K
  • · Replies 56 ·
2
Replies
56
Views
5K
Replies
25
Views
2K
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K