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In just 0.30 s , you compress a spring (spring constant 5000 n/m ), which is initially at its equilibrium length, by 4.0 cm. part a what is your average power output?

User Jrinker
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1 Answer

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The average power output is the ratio between the work done to compress the spring, W, and the time taken, t:

P= (W)/(t) (1)

The work done is equal to the elastic energy stored by the compressed spring:

W=U= (1)/(2)kx^2
where
k=5000 N/m is the spring constant and
x=4.0 cm=0.04 m is the compression of the spring. If we substitute the numbers, we find:

W= (1)/(2)(5000 N/m)(0.04 m)^2=4 J

And now we can use eq.(1) to calculate the average power output:

P= (W)/(t)= (4 J)/(0.30 s) =13.3 W
User Kanmuri
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