Elastic Springs: how much work is done in compressing....

[hingis]

"A spring has nautral length of 1 m, and a force of 10 N is required to hold it stretched to a total of 2m. How much work is done in compressing this spring from its natural length to a length of 60 cm?"

I did F = 10 = k delta x = k * (2m-1m) = 10

Then integral from 0 to 0.4 10x dx = 10x^2/2 = 0.8 N* m

Does that look right to you guys?

 

[Guest]

also, im assuming that the work is positive, right?

 

[stapel]

Why are you continuing threads begun by "hingis"...?

Eliz.

 

[Guest]

because i lost my password and created a new name but i found the paper i wrote it on so im back to my old name...

 

[daon]

also, im assuming that the work is positive, right?

Work is positive since it is moving in the direction you are applying the force. If, however you pushed on the spring (as to compress it) and it decompressed, that would yeild negative work.