Question

The coil springs on a car's suspension have a value of k = 64000 N/m. When the

car strikes a bump the springs briefly compress by 5.0 cm (.05 m). How much
energy is momentarily stored in each spring?

Answer 1

80 joule is momentarily stored in each spring

Solution:

Given that,

The coil springs on a car's suspension have a value of k = 64000 N/m

When the car strikes a bump the springs briefly compress by 5.0 cm (.05 m)

By compressing the spring, we apply a force over a distance

As a result we have done work on the spring

Doing work means that we have transferred energy to spring in form of elastic potential

Therefore,

k = 64000 N/m

x = 0.05m

The elastic potential energy is given as:

`PE = (1)/(2)kx^2`

Where, "k" is the spring constant and "x" is the displacement

`PE = (1)/(2) * 64000 * 0.05^2\\\\PE = 32000 * 0.0025\\\\PE = 80`

Thus 80 joule is momentarily stored in each spring