Question

A 3 kg ball rests on top of a spring on the ground and the weight of the ball compresses the spring a distance of 3 cm. What is the spring constant of the spring?

Answer 1

We can find the spring constant of the spring from the Hooke's law:

$$F=kx,$$ $$mg=kx,$$ $$k=\dfrac{mg}{x}=\dfrac{3\ kg\cdot 9.8\ \dfrac{m}{s^2}}{0.03\ m}=980\ \dfrac{N}{m}.$$

Answer:

$k=980\ \dfrac{N}{m}.$