A spring will stretch 12 cm when a 250-g mass is hung on it. If two springs are hung side by side and both support the 250-g mass, how much will each spring stretch? Explain.

Question

doc.brown · Answer

If you share the force of the mass being pulled by gravity evenly, you cut the force in half.
$$F=ma$$$$\frac{F}{2}=\frac{ma}{2}$$
The force by the spring is the same.
$$F=kx$$$$\frac{F}{2}=\frac{kx}{2}$$
or
$$\frac{ma}{2}=\frac{kx}{2}$$
The spring constant k will remain... um... constant.  So the distance x will be halved.

anonymous · Answer

@doc.brown can you please explain it more? i understand F=MA but i dont understand what numbers to put where in order to get the answer. i know the mass is 250-g because it's stated in the problem.

anonymous · Answer

correct
m = 250g, and inorder to put it into the equation it needs to be in kg, so 250g becomes 0.250kg ^_^

as for the other variables:
a = acceleration
x = distance the spring is stretched 
k = 'spring constant'

does this help? @colbiespann

anonymous · Answer

okay so we will be using F=ma..... sooo...


M= 0.250kg
x= 12cm

so far that's all i have, how do i figure out K and A? @DemolisionWolf

anonymous · Answer

good, yes you are right
I'll help you out with a, a actually stands for acceleration which in our case will be gravity. sooo, a = 9.81 ^_^
now i'm going to approach it a bit different then the guy above...

anonymous · Answer

so here is what the first thing looks like
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