General Question About Spring/Mass System

  • Thread starter Thread starter Meadman23
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    General System
AI Thread Summary
In a spring/mass system problem, it's essential to use consistent units, particularly when applying formulas designed for the metric system (mks). If given values in feet and pounds, conversion to meters and Newtons is necessary for accurate calculations. The discussion highlights confusion around the unit of mass known as "slugs," which may arise when using imperial units. The consensus suggests that for academic purposes, it's likely that mass should be expressed in kilograms rather than slugs. Ultimately, clarity on unit requirements from the instructor is crucial for solving the problem correctly.
Meadman23
Messages
43
Reaction score
0
In a spring/mass system problem, if you are given your values in units of feet and pounds, are you supposed to convert them to units of Newtons and meters??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you are using formulae which have been designed for the mks system, then yes, you must use mks units.
 
In my case, I'm not really sure what I should use. For my problem, when I use the kx=mg equation and solve for my mass, I end up getting an answer in units of slugs.


http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mechanics/slug.html


Looking at the above link, it tells me that a slug is a unit of mass, so I'll have to try to go with it...
 
Meadman23 said:
...I end up getting an answer in units of slugs.

Haha! I've never heard of slugs before! And I'm in the US. Is that sad? When will we stop being so stubborn and just use metric units? And rename football to handball?

As for your problem, it really depends on what your teacher wants. Though I'm guessing that's kilograms and not slugs.
 
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
View full post »
Thread 'Trying to understand the logic behind adding vectors with an angle between them'

Thread 'Trying to understand the logic behind adding vectors with an angle between them'

My initial calculation was to subtract V1 from V2 to show that from the perspective of the second aircraft the first one is -300km/h. So i checked with ChatGPT and it said I cant just subtract them because I have an angle between them. So I dont understand the reasoning of it. Like why should a velocity be dependent on an angle? I was thinking about how it would look like if the planes where parallel to each other, and then how it look like if one is turning away and I dont see it. Since...
View full post »

Similar threads

Distribution of Energy when work is done on a system of 2 masses connected by a spring
Replies
17
Views
2K
Stretching of a rotating spring
Replies
8
Views
2K
Free Body Diagram of Mass-Spring System
Replies
5
Views
1K
A block dropping onto a spring system
2
Replies
58
Views
2K
Trouble understanding the influence of a real spring in a system
Replies
3
Views
2K
Spring-mediated dipole in a magnetic field
Replies
31
Views
2K
Coupled pendulum-spring system
Replies
3
Views
849
2 Masses attached by a spring in the vertical axis
Replies
8
Views
1K
Vertical Mass Spring System | Analyzing work
Replies
18
Views
1K
Derivation of the oscillation period for a vertical mass-spring system
Replies
9
Views
4K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top