If a 26 pound mass suspended on a spring scale stretches the spring 18 inches, how far will a 33 pound mass stretch the spring?

Question

If a 26 pound mass suspended on a spring scale stretches the spring 18 inches, how far will a 33 pound mass stretch the spring?

Answer 1

We can use a proportion.

 

The ratio of the mass to the ratio is displacement.

 

(26 / 33) = (18 / x)

 

and x is the distance when the mass is 33 pounds.

 

 

Cross multiply.

 

26x = (18) * (33)

26x = 594

   x = 22.85

 

The string stretches 22.85 inches when the mass is 33 pound mass.