Question

What is the length a rubberband was stretched if it has a spring constant of 5700N/m and is currently holding 8600J OF POTENTIAL energy?

Answer 1

Answer:

$\displaystyle \Delta x=1.74\ m$

Explanation:

Elastic Potential Energy

Is the energy stored in an elastic material like a spring of constant k, in which case the energy is proportional to the square of the change of length Δx and the constant k.

$\displaystyle PE = \frac{1}{2}k(\Delta x)^2$

Given a rubber band of a spring constant of k=5700 N/m that is holding potential energy of PE=8600 J, it's required to find the change of length under these conditions.

Solving for Δx:

$\displaystyle \Delta x=\swrt{\frac{2PE}{k}}$

Substituting:

$\displaystyle \Delta x=\sqrt{\frac{2*8600}{5700}}$

Calculating:

$\displaystyle \Delta x=\sqrt{3.0175}$

$\boxed{\displaystyle \Delta x=1.74\ m}$