Question

A spring stores 0.36 Joules of energy when it is when it is compressed by 6.0 cm from its original

length, what is the spring constant?

Answer 1

Spring constant, k = 200 N/m

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the following data;

Potential energy = 0.36 J

Extension, e = 6 cm

Conversion:

100 cm = 1 meters

6 cm = 6/100 = 0.06 meters

To find the spring constant;

Mathematically, the energy stored in a spring is given by the formula;

`E = \frac {1}{2}kx^(2)`

Where;

E is the energy.

K is the spring constant.

x is the extension of the spring.

Substituting into the formula, we have;

`0.36 = \frac {1}{2}*k*0.06^(2)`

Cross-multiplying, we have;

`0.36 * 2 = 0.0036k`

`0.72 = 0.0036k`

`k = \frac {0.72}{0.0036}`

Spring constant, k = 200 N/m