A manufacturer of springs tests the properties of a spring by measuring the load applied each time the extension is increased. The graph of load against extension in Figure 1.
Figure 1
Calculate the spring constant of the spring.
Show that the work done in extending the spring up to point B is around 1.1 J.
When the spring reaches an extension of 0.046 m, the load on it is gradually reduced to zero.
On the graph in Figure 1, sketch how the extension of the spring will vary with load as the load is reduced to zero. Explain why the graph has this shape.
Without further calculation, compare the total work done by the spring when the load is removed with the work that was done by the load in producing the extension of 0.046 m. Explain how this is represented on the graph drawn in part (c).
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