Math Help Forum: Work done

A force of 750 pounds compresses a spring 3 inches from its natural length of 15 inches. Find the work done in compressing the spring an additional 3 inches.

You're asking far too many questions. It would do no good for us to help you if you honestly don't know what you're doing with any of them.

I want you to think this problem through and we'll build on it.

work = force * distance

i know how to start them and i get anwsers but i don't know if they are right.

integrate from 0 to 6 750x dx=13500N?

They seem to want you to assume a lot. Not really sure why this is even a calc question.

On a force-distance graph, y = 750 when x = 3 and y = 0 when x = 0.

The integral of a force-distance graph gives you force*distance, or work.

So we have



And we want



We know that W(0) is 0, so W(3) must be 2250.