A horizontal spring with spring constant 750 N/m is attached to a wall. An athlete presses against the free end of the spring, compressing it 5.0 cm. How hard is the athlete pushing?

Video transcript

Hi, everyone in this practice problem, we're being asked to calculate the force of the punch of a boxer during a punching challenge where a boxer punches a horizontal spring which is mounted on a vertical pole. And through this punch, the spring actually compresses by 10 centimeters. We're being asked to calculate the force of the punch by the boxer. If the spring has a spring constant of 600 Newton per meter. And the options given are a 600 Newton B 60 Newton C negative 60 Newton and D negative 600 Newton. So for this particular practice problem, we will assume that the boxer and the spring are both stationary. Hence, because of that, then the force of the punch must be equal to the spring force which is opposing to the punch force. Therefore, we will have F punch equals to negative F spring. And the F spring is then going to be calculated by multiplying the spring constant K with the compression delta X. And substituting those two values from our problem statement, we will be then able to calculate our F punch, which is going to equals two negative spring constant, which is 600 new 10 per meter multiplied by the compression which is going to be 10 centimeters. However, the way we want to denote the 10 centimeters is going to be in meter and also at the same time because it is a compression, we wanna add the negative value in front of it. So in this case, this will then be negative 10 times 10 to the power of negative two m just like. So, so then that will give us an F bunch value of 60 Newton which is going to be the total force of the punch by the boxer. If the string constant is 600 Newton per meter. So 60 Newton, the force of the punch by the boxer will equals all correspond to option B in our answer choices. So option B is going to be the answer to this particular practice problem. So if you guys still have any sort of confusion, please make sure to check out our other lesson videos on a similar topic and they'll be all for this one. Thank you.