Question

A fisherman uses a spring scale to weigh a tilapia fish. He records the fish weight as a kilograms and notices that the spring stretches b centimeters. Which expression represents the spring constant (1 =9.8 )? A). 980ab B). 9.8ab C). 9.8ab D). 980ab

Answer 1

k =
`(980a)/(b)`

Explanation:

Fisherman noticed a stretch in the spring = 'b' centimetres

Weight of the fish = a kilograms

If force applied on a spring scale makes a stretch in the spring then Hook's law for the force applied is,

F = kΔx

Where k = spring constant

Δx = stretch in the spring

F = weight applied

F = mg

Here 'm' = mass of the fish

g = gravitational constant

F = a(9.8)

= 9.8a

Δx = b centimetres = 0.01b meters

Therefore, 9.8a = k(0.01b)

k =
`(9.8a)/(0.01b)`

k =
`(980a)/(b)`

Therefore, spring constant of the spring will be determined by the expression, k =
`(980a)/(b)`