Spring Constant & Potential Energy

In summary, the conversation is about finding the potential energy and spring constant of a fully compressed plastic spring. The spring was compressed by an external force and the measured variables included the spring height when not compressed, the height when completely compressed, and the mass of the spring. Using Hooke's Law and the formula for force due to gravity, the potential energy was found to be 0.00508J and the spring constant was 2.074N/m. The person asking for help notes that the results seem low, but the expert points out that they could be accurate if the spring is weak.
  • #1
Bonana
1
0

Homework Statement


Problem - Find the following:
a. Potential energy in a fully compressed plastic spring.
b. Spring constant

This was a lab and we're supposed to do it at home, here are the variables I have measured:
spring height when not compressed: 0.115 metres.
spring height when completely compressed: 0.0450 metres
mass of spring: 0.0148kg


Homework Equations


Hookes Law:
Ep = 1/2kx^2
Fs = mg

The Attempt at a Solution


The answers we got seemed extremely low.
A)1/2(2/074N/m)(0.07m)^2 = 0.00508J
B)(0.0148kg)(9.81m/s^2)/0.07m = 2.074N/m


Any help would be great.
 
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  • #2
Dear Bonana,
could you tell a bit about the setup of the experiment? How did the spring get compressed: by an external force or by its own weight?
 
  • #3
Bonana said:

Homework Statement


Problem - Find the following:
a. Potential energy in a fully compressed plastic spring.
b. Spring constant

This was a lab and we're supposed to do it at home, here are the variables I have measured:
spring height when not compressed: 0.115 metres.
spring height when completely compressed: 0.0450 metres
mass of spring: 0.0148kg


Homework Equations


Hookes Law:
Ep = 1/2kx^2
Fs = mg

The Attempt at a Solution


The answers we got seemed extremely low.
A)1/2(2/074N/m)(0.07m)^2 = 0.00508J
B)(0.0148kg)(9.81m/s^2)/0.07m = 2.074N/m


Any help would be great.

If these are the measured data, the results are correct. It can be a weak spring.

ehild
 

FAQ: Spring Constant & Potential Energy

What is the concept of spring constant?

The spring constant, also known as the force constant, is a measure of how stiff a spring is. It represents the amount of force required to stretch or compress a spring by a certain distance.

How is spring constant related to potential energy?

The spring constant is directly related to potential energy. As the spring constant increases, the potential energy stored in the spring also increases. This means that a stiffer spring requires more work to be done to stretch or compress it, resulting in higher potential energy.

What is the formula for spring constant?

The formula for spring constant is k = F/x, where k is the spring constant, F is the applied force, and x is the displacement of the spring.

How does the mass of an object affect the spring constant?

The mass of an object does not affect the spring constant. The spring constant is solely determined by the properties of the spring itself, such as its material, length, and cross-sectional area.

How does the spring constant change with temperature?

The spring constant can change with temperature, as the material properties of the spring can be affected by temperature changes. In general, as temperature increases, the spring constant also increases. This is due to the fact that the atoms in the spring vibrate more at higher temperatures, resulting in a stiffer spring.

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