Example 1 When a mass of 24kg is hung from the end of a spring, the length of the spring increased from 35cm to 39cm. What is the load on the spring in Newton? What is the extension of the spring? Calculate the force constant of the spring. Answer: F=240N x= 4 cm k = 60 Ncm-1
Example 2 A spring with force constant 50 Nm-1 is stretched by a force of 4N. What is the extension of the spring? Calculate the elastic potential energy stored in the spring. Answer: x = 0.08m Ep=0.16 J
Example 3 An unloaded spring has a length of 12.0cm. With a load of 5N, the length increases to 13.5cm. What would the length be with a load of 3N?(Assume that the elastic limit is not exceeded) Answer = 12.9 cm