Real vs Ideal Springs: How Do Forces and Stretches Compare?

Thread starter ninetyfour
Start date Jul 16, 2010
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In the discussion, the impact of mass on a real spring's force and stretch is analyzed compared to an ideal spring. It is established that a real spring, having mass, will exert a greater force on an attached mass due to its own weight, resulting in a smaller stretch than an ideal spring. The differences in behavior between real and ideal springs are illustrated through free body diagrams. Participants emphasize the importance of considering the mass of the spring in calculations. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate physics problem-solving.

Jul 16, 2010

ninetyfour

Homework Statement

Since a real spring has mass, if another mass was attached to it, would the spring exert a greater force on the mass and have a smaller stretch, versus if this spring was an ideal spring?

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Jul 16, 2010

6Stang7

Show a free body diagram for both cases.

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