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Mei asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 3 years ago

Physics 101 help majorly needed?

a) You jump off a bridge with a (massless) bungee cord (a stretchable spring) tied around your ankle. You fall for 15 m before the bungee cord begins to stretch. Your mass is 60 kg and we assume the cord obeys Hooke’s law, F = –kx, with k = 55 N/m. If we neglect air resistance, use conservation of energy to calculate the distance d below the bridge your foot will be before coming to a stop. (3 marks)

b) What is the magnitude of the acceleration the cord exerts on you when it is fully extended? Give answer in terms of multiples of g = 9.8 m/s2 (i.e. this is how many g’s it is exerting and we can tolerate about 4-5 g’s before passing out). (1 mark)

c) If the river is 60 m below the bridge, what spring constant, k, do you need for the bungee cord so that you get your body fully dunked in the river (i.e. your foot is at the level of the river, 60 m below the bridge)? (2 marks)

d)What is the magnitude of the acceleration the cord exerts on you when it is fully extended for the spring constant found in (c)? Again, give answer in terms of multiples of g = 9.8 m/s2. Which is the softer ride? the bungee cord used in (a) or c)? (1 mark)

I m pretty sure I ve got a) figured out but b,c,and d stump me. Explanations are appreciated.

2 Answers

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  • Whome
    Lv 7
    3 years ago
    Favourite answer

    a) calculate the stop distance d below the bridge

    gravity potential energy will convert to spring potential

    ½kx² = mgh

    if d is the total distance of drop h, d - 15 is the stretch of the cord x.

    ½k(d - 15)² = mgd

    27.5(d² - 30d + 225) = mgd

    27.5d² - 27.5(30)d + 27.5(225) = 60(9.8)d

    27.5d² - 825d + 6187.5 = 588d

    27.5d² - 1413d + 6187.5 = 0

    quadratic formula

    d = (1413 ±√(1413² - 4(27.5(6187.5))) / (2(27.5))

    d = 4.83 m which we ignore as the spring has not yet begun to stretch

    or

    d = 46.548

    d = 47 m ANSWER

    to the 2 sig. fig. of the question numerals

    b) What is the magnitude of the acceleration the cord exerts on you when it is fully extended?

    Force in the spring will equal mass times acceleration

    F = kx = ma

    55(46.548 - 15) = 60a

    a = 28.919 m/s² / 9.8 m/s²/g

    a = 2.9509...

    a = 3.0 g's

    c) What spring constant, k, for full dunk 60 m below?

    ½kx² = mgh

    ½k(60 - 15)² = 60(9.8)60

    k = 34.844...

    k = 35 N/m

    d) Maximum upward acceleration of (c)

    34.844(45) = 60a

    a = 26.133 m/s² / 9.8 m/s²/g

    a = 2.6666...

    a = 2.7 g's

    As this is a lower acceleration rate, it is the "softer" ride.

    I hope this helps.

    Please remember to vote a "Best Answer" from among your results. It s good karma as it helps keep the exchange in balance.

  • oubaas
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    a) You jump off a bridge with a (massless) bungee cord (a stretchable spring) tied around your ankle. You fall for 15 m before the bungee cord begins to stretch. Your mass is 60 kg and we assume the cord obeys Hooke’s law, F = –kx, with k = 55 N/m. If we neglect air resistance, use conservation of energy to calculate the distance d below the bridge your foot will be before coming to a stop. (3 marks)

    g is approximated to 10 m/sec^2

    m*g*(h+x) = k/2*x^2

    60*10*(15+x) = 27.5*x^2

    27.5x^2-600x-9000 = 0

    x = (600+√600^2+110*9000)/55 = 32.0 m

    H = h+x = 15+32 = 47.0 m

    b) What is the magnitude of the acceleration the cord exerts on you when it is fully extended? Give answer in terms of multiples of g = 9.8 m/s2 (i.e. this is how many g’s it is exerting and we can tolerate about 4-5 g’s before passing out). (1 mark)

    F = k*x = 55*32 = 1760 N

    top deceleration a max = (1760-60*g)/m = (1760-600)/60 = 1160/60 = 19.3 m/sec^2 ≈ 2g negatives

    c) If the river is 60 m below the bridge, what spring constant, k, do you need for the bungee cord so that you get your body fully dunked in the river (i.e. your foot is at the level of the river, 60 m below the bridge)? (2 marks)

    m*g*(15+45) = k/2*45^2

    2*60*10*(15+45) = k*45^2

    60^2*20 = k*45^2

    K = 60^2*20/45^2 ≈ 35 N/m

    d)What is the magnitude of the acceleration the cord exerts on you when it is fully extended for the spring constant found in (c)? Again, give answer in terms of multiples of g = 9.8 m/s2. Which is the softer ride? the bungee cord used in (a) or c)? (1 mark)

    F = k*x = 35*45 = 1575 N

    top deceleration a max = (1575-60*g)/m = (1575-600)/60 = 975/60 = 16.2 m/sec^2 ≈ 1.6 g negatives

    softer ride is that with k = 35 N/m

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