PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Mechanical Properties of Solids · Mechanical Properties of Solids
Problem
During a laboratory investigation, students pull horizontally on two different springs, R and S, with a force probe that can be set to any chosen magnitude. When the probe reads 3.0N the measured extensions from the relaxed lengths are
• spring R: 1.5cm
• spring S: 1.0cm
(a) Calculate the stiffness constant for each spring. Show your work and include proper units.
(b) Based on your results, identify which spring is stiffer and quantify how many times stiffer it is.
(c) Both springs are now stretched to 5.0cm and released from rest. Determine the ratio of the maximum elastic potential energy stored in spring S to that stored in spring R, and interpret what this ratio implies about the energy comparison between the two springs.