If a certain spring stretches 4.32221 cm when a load of 15.3617 N is suspended from it, how much will the spring stretch if it is cut in half and 18.2451 N is suspended from it?

each half of the spring had the same force, but only stretched 1/2 the distance originally.

so if you cut it in half, the
original half spring k=15.3617/(.5*4.32221)

new stretch=19.2451/k=18.2451*.5*4.33221/15.3617 about 2.3cm in my head. Work it out.

To solve this problem, we can make use of Hooke's Law. Hooke's Law states that the amount a spring stretches or compresses is directly proportional to the force applied to it.

Mathematically, Hooke's Law can be expressed as:

F = k * x

where:
F is the force applied to the spring,
k is the spring constant, and
x is the displacement of the spring.

In this problem, we are given the force and displacement of the original spring and are asked to find the displacement of a new spring.

First, let's calculate the spring constant of the original spring using the given information. We have:

F = 15.3617 N
x = 4.32221 cm = 0.0432221 m

Now, we can rearrange Hooke's Law to solve for the spring constant:

k = F / x

Substituting the values:

k = 15.3617 N / 0.0432221 m

k ≈ 355.649 N/m

Now, let's find the displacement for the new spring.

We are given:
F = 18.2451 N

Since the spring is cut in half, the spring constant will also be halved. Therefore, the new spring constant is:

k' = k / 2
= 355.649 N/m / 2
= 177.8245 N/m

Using Hooke's Law:

F = k' * x'

Solving for x':

x' = F / k'
= 18.2451 N / 177.8245 N/m

x' ≈ 0.10254 m

Therefore, the new spring will stretch approximately 0.10254 m (or 10.254 cm) when a load of 18.2451 N is suspended from it.