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Homework Statement
When a .5kg mass is suspended from a spring, the spring stretches 4cm. The mass is then displaced 2cm from its equilibrium position and released.
(a) What is the spring constant? (b) What is the mechanical energy of the mass? (c) What is the speed of the mass as it passes through its equilibrium position going down and going up?
Homework Equations
F=kx (k is spring constant)
W= .5(k)x2
KE= .5mv2
The Attempt at a Solution
For part A I used F=kx:
mg=kx
(.5kg)(9.8m/s2) = k (.04m)
k= 122.5N/m
For part B I used W= .5kx2:
W= .5(122.5N/m)(.02m)2
W= .025J
For part C I used KE = .5mv2
.025J = .5(.5kg)v2
v= .32m/s
I just need to make sure that I'm on the right track with this problem. I can get confused as to when to use .04m and .02 and generally with using formulas.
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