# Calculating restorative force with Hooke's Law [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate:
Mass points of a Mass-spring model

Say I have a spring like the one in the picture below:

The point at the top is fixed to a ceiling.

The red coloured arrow is the direction in which I pull the spring to, and its vector is $(3, 6)$. Let's say the triangluar spring is equilateral and gravitational force is considered to be as $mg$.

Now, I want to find its restorative force in the y-axis direction. Based on Hooke's Law,

where $k$ is stiffness.

But I am not sure if I did this correctly.

Do I have to include the force of $-6k$, which is the change in length from the pulled direction vector in the y-axis?

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## marked as duplicate by dmckee♦Nov 26 '12 at 1:43

Related question by OP: physics.stackexchange.com/q/44967/2451 –  Qmechanic Nov 24 '12 at 6:04
What is preventing the three springs from rotating about the top point such that equilibrium is reached? –  ja72 Nov 24 '12 at 7:06
I wish you had labeled the nodes A, B and C so we can be clear on our answers. –  ja72 Nov 24 '12 at 18:17
I do not see how this differs from the earlier question and will likely merge them. On the whole reposting questions because you didn't get the answer you wanted is discouraged as is minutely detailed iterative problem solving by StackExcahnge. Edit you original question for corrections and clarification, take it to chat, or work on it your self for a while. –  dmckee Nov 25 '12 at 16:45

First thing--the springs are not extended by $(3,6)$; they are extended by the component of that vector in their direction. So, for each spring you'll have to apply trigonometric functions twice--once to calculate the $x$ used in $kx$, once to calculate the $y$ component of force.

Secondly, unless the displacement is a small one, the whole assembly may rotate about the pivot point. In this case, you need to know about the mechanism of the pulling--exactly where it is being pulled to with what force. If you know this, use it to apply constraints on the system, and you'll be able to calculate the answer.

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The achieve force balance in the y-direction, you need

$$-F_{\rm spring} \cos 30^\circ + m g + F_y = 0$$

where positive spring force is tensile and negative is compressive. From this you solve for $F_{\rm spring}$ regardless of what the spring constant $k$ is. You need the spring constant to find out the displacement of the node, but I do not think this is asked here.

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