What is the Mass of a Box in a Car's Trunk Based on Rear Shock Compression?

[flyingpig]

Homework Statement

When a box of unknown mass is placed into a trunk of a car, both rear shocks are compressed a distance of 7.00cm. If we assume the two rear shocks are made from springs, each with a spring constant of 35,000.00N/m, what is the mass of the box? (Assume g = 9.80m/s2).

The Attempt at a Solution

I don't even understand the problem

 

[Doc Al]

"Shock" = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_absorber" . Just think of them as being vertically oriented springs with the mass placed right on top of them.

 

[gneill]

The car is mounted to the wheels by way of springs. Actually it's springs in parallel with dampers that add friction so the car doesn't keep bouncing up and down indefinitely after hitting a bump. The combination is called a "shock absorber" for obvious reasons. In short form, "shocks". In modern parlance we tend to refer to the damper as the shock and call the spring a spring... But for purposes of this question, the shocks are springs. Does that help?

The problem is saying that when a heavy box is placed in the rear of the car, the springs at the back are compressed by 7cm. Have fun!