The Student Room Group

Direct Proportion

The extension E of an elastic string (in mm) is directly proportional to the mass m on the string (in grams)

a) Find a formula for E in terms of m

The numbers that I have been provided are

750g and 35mm

So from what I know

e=km where K is the constant

so 35/750

Which is totally wrong when looking at the answers.

I don't know what I am doing wrong though.

Any Ideas?
Reply 1
Original post by zed963
The extension E of an elastic string (in mm) is directly proportional to the mass m on the string (in grams)

a) Find a formula for E in terms of m

The numbers that I have been provided are

750g and 35mm

So from what I know

e=km where K is the constant

so 35/750

Which is totally wrong when looking at the answers.

I don't know what I am doing wrong though.

Any Ideas?


But what do the numbers you have been given actually represent?
Reply 2
Actually let me think
Reply 3
Original post by Cephalus
But what do the numbers you have been given actually represent?


the extension of the string is 35mm and the mass on the string is 750g
Reply 4
Are you sure your formula is correct?
Reply 5
Original post by Cephalus
Actually let me think


what would the force be?
Reply 6
Well I was thinking of Hookes law where the force is equal to the weight if it was hanging vertically

hookes law states force = k multiplied by extension
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 7
What does the answer say?
Reply 8
Can you give the full question

In particular I want to know if 35 is the length or the extension

sorry missed post 4


Full Q may still be handy though
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 9
Original post by TenOfThem
Can you give the full question

In particular I want to know if 35 is the length or the extension


Not unless he thinks he's wrong because he hasn't cancelled his fraction? But yeah mixing up length and ext is the most common mistake I suppose.
Is it simply because you haven't simplified your fraction?
In that case, the final answer would be 7/150.

Either that, or we are missing the full question.
Reply 11
Original post by Codecharacter
Is it simply because you haven't simplified your fraction?
In that case, the final answer would be 7/150.

Either that, or we are missing the full question.


Yes that is the correct answer but where have you got that from,

Please can you show me your full working out.
Reply 12
Oh you just simplified it ignore post 12 codecharacter.
Original post by zed963
Oh you just simplified it ignore post 12 codecharacter.


Remember to simplify next time lol :biggrin:
Reply 14
Original post by Codecharacter
Remember to simplify next time lol :biggrin:


I just entered the thing in the calculator and it turned into a decimal, I should have converted it into a fraction instead, my bad.

Thanks,

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