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A 110-kg box is loaded into the trunk of a car. If the height of the car’s bumper decreases by 13 cm, what is the force constant of its rear suspension?

a. 846 N/m
b. 110 N/m
c. 753 N/m
d. 92 N/m

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The force constant of the car's rear suspension is approximately 753 N/m. (option c)

Step-by-step explanation:

The force constant (spring constant) can be determined using Hooke's Law, which states that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to the displacement from its equilibrium position.

Mathematically, this is expressed as F = −k ⋅ x, where F is the force, k is the force constant, and x is the displacement.

In this case, the force exerted by the suspension is the weight of the box, given by F = m ⋅ g, where m is the mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The displacement x is the decrease in height of the bumper.

The force constant k can be calculated as k = m⋅g/x

Substituting the given values, we get

k = 110kg ⋅ 9.8m/s²/0.13m ​, which is approximately 753 N/m.

k = 110kg ⋅ 9.8m/s²/0.13m ≈ 753N/m

The force constant of the car's rear suspension is approximately 753 N/m, leading to the correct answer, option c.

User Nigel Ren
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