Given Information:
Work done = W = 3.0 J
compressed length = x = 0.12 m
acceleration = α = 15 m/s²
Required Information:
(a) spring constant = k = ?
(b) mass = m = ?
Answer:
(a) spring constant = 416.67
(b) mass = 3.33 kg
Explanation:
(a)
We are given a mass spring system,
We know that work done is given by
W = ½kx²
Where W is the work done, k is the spring constant and x is the compressed length of the spring.
Re-arranging the equation for spring constant k yields,
k = 2W/x²
k = 2*3/0.12²
k = 416.67
We know that force is given by
F = kx
We also know from the Newton's second law that
F = mα
equating both equations yields,
mα = kx
m = kx/α
m = (416.67*0.12)/15
m = 3.33 kg