Question

A 1000 kg safe is 1.5 m above a heavy-duty spring when the rope holding the safe breaks. The safe hits the spring and compresses it 46 cm . What is the spring constant of the spring?

Answer 1

Gravitational acceleration = g = 9.81 m/s2

Mass of the safe = M = 1000 kg

Height of the safe above the spring = H = 1.5 m

Force constant of the spring = k

Amount the spring compresses = d = 46 cm = 0.46 m

By conservation of energy the potential energy lost by safe is equal to the potential energy gained by the spring.

k = 1.817 x 10^5 N/m

Force constant of the spring = 1.817 x 10^5 N/m