Question

if a body of mass M suspended by a spring comes to rest of the downward displacement y0 calculate a. force constant of the spring b. loss in gravitational c. potential energy in elastic potential energy of spring. please answer as soon as possible ..i have exam tomorrow plz hurry up guys. i dont want any irrelevant answers plzz understand !!

Answer 1

The energy stored in the spring is the one that is give 1/2kx2. As you mention, by conservation of energy there also a reduction of potential energy, but that reduction is not energy that it's stored by the spring but the complete change of energy of the whole system.

Take into consideration, that the problem just states what's happening with the spring, for example in a horizontal configuration where there would be no gravitational force applied to the mass/spring system.

Answer 2

A mass spring system is in equilibrium. If I pull on the load by xx meters, the energy stored in the spring is (this is what is given in my book):

E=12kx2E=12kx2

However, doesn't the load lose gravitational potential energy as it moves down? Where would this energy go? By conservation law, shouldn't the energy equation be:

Estored=12kx2+mgxEstored=12kx2+mgx

In short, where does the loss of gravitational potential energy (mgx) of the load get transferred to if it is not stored in the spring?