Question

Energy Calculations

I stretch a rubber band 0.035 m and store 12.7 J of ELPE in it in the process. What is the spring constant of the rubber band in N/m?

Possible answers:

725.7 N/m
10.73 N/m
20,734.69 N/m
Not enough information

Answer 1

Answer: 20,734.69 N/m

Step-by-step explanation:

The elastic potential energy (ELPE) of the rubber band is given by

`E=(1)/(2)kx^2`

where

k is the spring constant

x = 0.035 m is the stretching of the rubber band

E = 12.7 J is the ELPE of the rubber band

Substituting the numbers and re-arranging the equation, we find

`k=(2E)/(x^2)=(2\cdot 12.7 J)/((0.035 m)^2)=20,734.69 N/m`