A 0.50-kg cart resting on an air track oscillates as shown in the animation (position in meters and time in seconds).
What is the spring constant of the spring? Start Help
Remember that the spring constant is given by k where F stands for force and ?x for the "elongation" caused by the force.
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Remember that the work can be determined as the change in kinetic energy. The kinetic energy is maximum when the spring is neither elongated nor compressed (x = 0). Find the velocity between 1.45 and 1.55 seconds to find the maximum kinetic energy. Then Work is the product of force and the distance over which that force acts.
See Giancoli-PA: 6-3, Giancoli-SE: 7-4.
Physlet problem authored by Aaron Titus.