What is the Spring Constant of a Spider's Silk Thread?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the spring constant of a spider's silk thread based on the spider's mass and the period of oscillation. The spider weighs 2.60 g and bounces with a period of 4.90 seconds. The relevant equations involve angular frequency and spring constant, leading to the formula k = m*(2π/T)². A participant initially struggles with the calculations but eventually confirms the correct period assumption and arrives at a spring constant value of 4.85x10^-3 N/m. The conversation emphasizes the importance of unit conversion and arithmetic accuracy in solving the problem.
brunettegurl
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Homework Statement



A 2.60 g spider is dangling at the end of a silk thread. You can make the spider bounce up and down on the thread by tapping lightly on his feet with a pencil. You soon discover that you can give the spider the largest amplitude on his little bungee cord if you tap exactly once every 4.90 s seconds. What is the spring constant of the silk thread.

Homework Equations



\omega= 2\pi/T
\omega= \sqrt{}k/m

The Attempt at a Solution


so i equated the 2 equations and tried to isolate for k and this is what my equation looked like : m*(2\pi/T)^2 = k ..i tried rearranging twice and my answer and equation are coming out the same ..pls. help
 
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brunettegurl said:
so i equated the 2 equations and tried to isolate for k and this is what my equation looked like : m*(2\pi/T)^2 = k ..i tried rearranging twice and my answer and equation are coming out the same ..pls. help
That looks fine to me. Why do you think it's not?
 
when i put the answer into my hwk the answer is appparently wrong..i was also wondering if i was right in assuming the period to be 4.90 seconds??
 
brunettegurl said:

Homework Statement



A 2.60 g spider is dangling at the end of a silk thread. You can make the spider bounce up and down on the thread by tapping lightly on his feet with a pencil. You soon discover that you can give the spider the largest amplitude on his little bungee cord if you tap exactly once every 4.90 s seconds. What is the spring constant of the silk thread.

Homework Equations



\omega= 2\pi/T
\omega= \sqrt{}k/m

The Attempt at a Solution


so i equated the 2 equations and tried to isolate for k and this is what my equation looked like : m*(2\pi/T)^2 = k ..i tried rearranging twice and my answer and equation are coming out the same ..pls. help


What value did you get ? Did you convert the mass to kg ? (I assume they want the k in N/m)
 
the value i am getting is 4.85x10^-3 N/m
 
brunettegurl said:
i was also wondering if i was right in assuming the period to be 4.90 seconds??
Yes, that was correct.
 
brunettegurl said:
the value i am getting is 4.85x10^-3 N/m
Double check your arithmetic.
 
thankx i got it :))
 
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