Question

What is the spring constant of Spring 1, in N/m?

This is in an online lab. All I know about spring 1 is that it is 30cm long, and with a mass of 250g attached, it reaches 55cm long.

My answer of 4.5 (.25 * 10 = k * .55) is incorrect...why? Thank you!

Answer 1

Got it - I wasn't taking the magnitude of displacement :)

Answer 2

Newtons is force ... like m g

m g = k x

.25 kg * 9.8 = k * .25 m

Answer 3

m g = F = k x = k(.55-.30)
.25(9.81) = k (.25)
k = g = 9.81 N/m