- #1
Hunter Arcanu
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Homework Statement
A bungee jumper of mass m=70 kg is riding a bungee cord with spring constant k=50 N/m. Its unstretched length is L=9.0 m. What is the amplitude of the jumper's oscillation?
m=70 kg
k=50 N/m
L=9 m
Homework Equations
mg(L+x)=(1/2)kx^2
x(t)=Bcos(omega(t)+alpha)
omega = (k/m)^(1/2)
The Attempt at a Solution
(70)(9.8)(9+x) = (1/2)(50)x^2
25x^2 - 686x - 6174 = 0
x = 34.58
(L+x)/2 = (9+34.58)/2 = 21.79 m
I'm not really sure how to use the equation for simple harmonic motion to determine the amplitude, but shouldn't the amplitude just be (L+x)/2 given that air friction is negligible and total energy is conserved?