Problem 16.1

Please wait for the animation to completely load.

The spring can be stretched by click-dragging the blue ball as shown in the animation (position is given in meters and time is given in seconds).  Once you have dragged the blue ball into position, click the "play" button to show the motion of the blue ball.  Restart.

1. Over what range of compression and stretching is Hooke's law valid?
2. Find the elastic limit of the spring.
3. Determine the spring constant of the spring.
4. Determine the mass of the blue ball.
5. Over what range of compression and stretching is the motion of the spring simple harmonic?

Instructor's Resource CD Edition: Do not post or distribute.
The complete version of Physlet Physics is available as a text with CD; Physlet Physics can be bundled with this Prentice Hall textbook.
© 2004 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Company