Question

You pull on a spring whose spring constant is 22 N/m, and stretch it from its equilibrium length of 0.3 m to a length of 0.7 m. Estimate the work done by dividing the stretching process into two stages and using the average force you exert to calculate work done during each stage.

Answer 1

Answer:

W= 4.4 J

Explanation

Elastic potential energy theory

If we have a spring of constant K to which a force F that produces a Δx deformation is applied, we apply Hooke's law:

F=K*x  Formula (1): The force F applied to the spring is proportional to the deformation x of the spring.

As the force is variable to calculate the work we define an average force

$F_{a} =\frac{F_{f}+F_{i} }{2}$  Formula (2)

Ff: final force

Fi: initial force

The work done on the spring is :

W = Fa*Δx

Fa : average force

Δx :  displacement

$W = F_{a} (x_{f} -x_{i} )$   :Formula (3)

$x_{f}$ :  final deformation

$x_{i}$  :initial deformation

Problem development

We calculate Ff and Fi , applying formula (1) :

$F_{f} = K*x_{f} =22\frac{N}{m} *0.7m =15.4N$

$F_{i} = K*x_{i} =22\frac{N}{m} *0.3m =6.6N$

We calculate average force applying formula (2):

$F_{a} =\frac{15.4N+6.2N}{2} = 11 N$

We calculate the work done on the spring  applying formula (3) :         :

W= 11N*(0.7m-0.3m) = 11N*0.4m=4.4 N*m = 4.4 Joule = 4.4 J

Work done in stages

Work is the change of elastic potential energy (ΔEp)

W=ΔEp

ΔEp= Epf-Epi

Epf= final potential energy

Epi=initial potential energy

$E_{pf} =\frac{1}{2} *k*x_{f}^{2}$

$E_{pi} =\frac{1}{2} *k*x_{i}^{2}$

$E_{pf} =\frac{1}{2} *22*0.7^{2} = 5.39 J$

$E_{pf} =\frac{1}{2} *22*0.3^{2} = 0.99 J$

W=ΔEp=  5.39 J-0.99 J = 4.4J

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