Consider a harmonic oscillator (mass on a spring without friction). Taking the mass alone to be the system, how much work is done on the system as the spring of stiffnessKS contracts from its maximum stretch A to its relaxed length? What is the change in kinetic energy of the system during this motion? For what choice of system does energy remain constant during this motion?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The amount of work done on the system is W=12ksA2 and the change in kinetic energy during the motion is K=12ksA2 . The energy remains constant for the system spring plus mass.

Step by step solution

01

Define the kinetic energy

The energy that an item has as a result of its motion is known as kinetic energy.

We must apply force to an item if we want it to accelerate. Applying force necessitates effort. After the job is completed, energy is transferred to the item, which then moves at a new constant speed. Kinetic energy is the amount of energy transmitted and is determined by the mass and speed achieved.

02

Calculation for amount of work done

The formula to find work is W=0AFdxwhere Fis force and xis the displacement of the block.

For the spring force is F=kx. The stretch of the spring as a function of the displacement will be A-x.

Substitute F=ksA-x into the formula of work.

role="math" localid="1657788251253" W=0AksA-xdx=ksAx-x220A=ksA2-A22=12ksA2

Therefore, the amount of work done is obtained asW=12ksA2 .

03

Change in kinetic energy

No non-conservative forces act on the system and so, energy is conserved between the initial and final states that isEi=Ef.

In the initial state the kinetic energy is zero, therefore the initial energy is equal to the elastic potential energy of the spring.

Ei=12ksA2AsEf=Kfso,Kf=12ksA2

Similarly, when the spring is in its relaxed position, there is only kinetic energy.

K=KfKi=12ksA2

The energy would remain constant for the system spring plus mass, because no non-conservative forces act on the system, so energy would only be shared between elastic potential energy (in the spring) and kinetic energy (in the mass). However, the total energy is always the same.

Therefore, the change in kinetic energy is obtained as K=12ksA2.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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Design a “bungee jump” apparatus for adults. A bungee jumper falls from a high platform with two elastic cords tied to the ankles. The jumper falls freely for a while, with the cords slack. Then the jumper falls an additional distance with the cords increasingly tense. You have cords that are 10 mlong, and these cords stretch in the jump an additional 24 mfor a jumper whose mass is 80 kg, the heaviest adult you will allow to use your bungee jump (heavier customers would hit the ground). You can neglect air resistance. (a) Make a series of five simple diagrams, like a comic strip, showing the platform, the jumper, and the two cords at various times in the fall and the rebound. On each diagram, draw and label vectors representing the forces acting on the jumper, and the jumper’s velocity. Make the relative lengths of the vectors reflect their relative magnitudes. (b) At what instant is there the greatest tension in the cords? How do you know? (c) What is the jumper’s speed at this instant? (d) Is the jumper’s momentum changing at this instant or not? (That is, isdp-/dtnonzero or zero?) Explain briefly. (e) Focus on this instant, and use the principles of this chapter to determine the spring stiffnessksfor each cord. Explain your analysis. (f) What is the maximum tension that each cord must support without breaking? (g) What is the maximum acceleration (in’s) that the jumper experiences? What is the direction of this maximum acceleration? (h) State clearly what approximations and estimates you have made in your design.

Question: Figure 7.48 is a portion of a graph of energy terms vs, time for a mass on a spring, subject to air resistance. Identify and label the three curves as to what kind of energy each represents. Explain briefly how you determined which curve represented which kind of energy.

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