Teaching Physics with the Physics Suite

Edward F. Redish

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Mass hanging on a spring

A video clip of a mass hanging on a spring (like shown in the sketch at the right) produces a graph of the y-velocity of the mass as a function of time shown below. The y-axis is shown in the figure with the positive direction indicated by the arrowhead. The graph starts in the second frame of the video. For this problem, ignore friction and air drag.

Answer the questions below by choosing all the correct answers and putting them in the boxes at the right of the questions. If none of the answers listed are correct, write N and write a brief indication of what you think the correct answer is next to the box.

a) At ~0.15 s when the velocity is at a negative maximum, the position of the mass is

  1. At its lowest point.
  2. At its highest point
  3. You can’t tell from the information given.
  4. At equilibrium going up.
  5. At equilibrium going down.

b) At ~0.4 s when the velocity is zero, the position of the mass is

  1. At its lowest point.
  2. At its highest point
  3. You can’t tell from the information given.
  4. At equilibrium going up.
  5. At equilibrium going down.

c) At ~0.8 s when the velocity is zero, the net force on the mass is

  1. Pointing up
  2. Pointing down
  3. Zero
  4. You can’t tell from the information given.

d) At ~0.4 s when the velocity is zero, the force of the spring on the mass is

  1. Pointing up
  2. Pointing down
  3. Zero
  4. You can’t tell from the information given.

e) At ~0.8 s when the velocity is zero, the force of the spring on the mass is

  1. Pointing up
  2. Pointing down
  3. Zero
  4. You can’t tell from the information given.

Page last modified February 25, 2010: O46