A car's suspension is made of very large springs that are designed to cushion force felt by the car. If the car weighs 1200 kg, what should the spring constant be to ensure that a person in the car never shifts more than 20 cm?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The spring constant should be 58,800 to ensure the car never shifts more than 20 cm. The force is equal to g*m, or 11760 N of force that would be experienced by the car from gravity going over a bump. Thus, 11760 = k*0.20m , with the result that k = 58800.

A Car's Suspension Is Made of Very Large Springs That