Assignment:
A block P of mass m is attached to three springs whose other ends are attached to fixed points A, B and C. I have listed the stiffnesses of the three springs and their natural lengths below. The point B is a distance 5L below A, and the point C is a distance 1/2L above B.
Spring = AP, Stiffness = 2k, Natural length = L
Spring = BP, Stiffness = 8k, Natural length = 1/2L
Spring = CP, Stiffness = 6k, Natural length = 3/2L
- What should the datum for gravitational potential energy of particle P be? Why choose this point?
- What is the gravitational potential energy of particle P at a general point of its motion?
- What is the kinetic energy of particle P at a general point of its motion?
- What is the potential energy stored in each spring at a general point of its motion?
- How would I write an equation representing the total mechanical energy for the system at a general point of its motion?
Provide complete and step by step solution for the question and show calculations and use formulas.