Much thanks to all who responded to my Spring Problem questions last
week. I'm beginning to see the light! With one more push in the right
direction, I might have this thing figured out. I'm like a vulture hovering
over this problem, ever circling, eventually diving in for the kill. However,
there is still one concept holding me back. If I can get this last point
figured out, I think I may have it.
Let's say we have a horizontal, massless, Hookean spring (k=2N/m)
attached at its left end to a rigid support. Let's say I pull with a CONSTANT
6N force to the right. The spring stretches out to position x=3m and comes to
rest, correct? Now, my question is in regard to the spring force which is
acting back toward the left as I exert my force to the right. Does it also
equal 6N in magnitude as the 3rd law would suggest, or does it vary from 0 to
-6N as F=-kx would suggest?
Any light that anyone could shed on this question will be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks ahead of time,
Steven Smotherman
Motlow State CC
Tullahoma, TN