Question

A spring has one end firmly attached to a wall and the other end attached to a mass. The mass can slide freely on a smooth, horizontal surface with no friction. When the mass is at the equilibrium position, what is true about the spring?

a. The spring is compressed by a maximum amount.
b. The spring is neither stretched nor compressed.
c. The spring is stretched by a maximum amount.
d. The spring is stretched or compressed by an amount greater than zero
e. I don't know yet.

Answer 1

b. The spring is neither stretched nor compressed.

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the equilibrium position is defined as the position where net Force is zero on the system

so here we can say that

`F_(net) = 0`

now we know that the spring block system is oscillating on the smooth floor so here we can say that there are only three forces on the block

1) Normal force

2) Weight

3) Spring force

since normal force is counter balanced by the weight of the object

so here only spring force will be there in horizontal direction.

So at equilibrium position we can say that net horizontal force will be zero

So we can say that

b. The spring is neither stretched nor compressed.