Suppose a 100-gram mass when attached to a spring causes the spring to stretch 8 cm

what would you expect a 25-gram mass to do when attached to the same spring
stretch the spring 8 cm
stretch the spring 32 cm
stretch the spring 4 cm
stretch the spring 2 cm

1 answer

To determine the effect of a 25-gram mass on the spring, we need to consider the relationship between mass and the amount of stretch in the spring.

In this case, we know that a 100-gram mass stretches the spring by 8 cm. From this information, we can infer that the increase in stretch is directly proportional to the increase in mass.

Using this relationship, we can set up a proportion to solve for the expected stretch when a 25-gram mass is attached.

(100 g) / (8 cm) = (25 g) / (x cm)

Simplifying the proportion:

(100 g)(x cm) = (25 g)(8 cm)

Cross-multiplying:

100x = 200

Dividing both sides by 100:

x = 2 cm

Therefore, we expect the 25-gram mass to stretch the spring by 2 cm.