Question

Description:

A single mass m₁ = 3.9 kg hangs from a spring in a motionless elevator. The spring is extended x = 11 cm from its unstretched length.

the spring constant of the spring is 347.45 N/m

Now, three masses m₁ = 3.9 kg, m₂ = 11.7 kg and m₃ = 7.8 kg hang from three identical springs in a motionless elevator. The springs all have the same spring constant that you just calculated above.

the force the top spring exerts on the top mass is 229.32N

the distance the lower spring is stretched from its equilibrium length is 22 cm.

Now the elevator is moving downward with a velocity of v = -2 m/s but accelerating upward with an acceleration of a = 5.2 m/s². (Note: an upward acceleration when the elevator is moving down means the elevator is slowing down.)

the force the bottom spring exerts on the bottom mass is 116.22N

the distance the upper spring is extended from its unstretched length is 100cm.

Finally, the elevator is moving downward with a velocity of v = -3.1 m/s and also accelerating downward at an acceleration of a = -2.2 m/s².

The elevator is speeding up.

Rank the distances the springs are extended from their unstretched lengths is x₁ > x₂ > x₃

_Question:

What is the distance the MIDDLE spring is extended from its unstretched length?

Answer 1