Tendons are strong elastic fibers that attach muscles to bones. To a reasonable

Question

Tendons are strong elastic fibers that attach muscles to bones. To a reasonable approximation, they obey Hooke's law. In laboratory tests on a particular tendon, it was found that, when a 253 gobject was hung from it, the tendon stretched 1.22 cm .

Part A) Find the force constant of this tendon in

N/m.

Part B) Because of its thickness, the maximum tension this tendon can support without rupturing is 143

N . By how much can the tendon stretch without rupturing, and how much energy is stored in it at that point?

Explanation / Answer

F = kx

mg = kx

253 x 10^-3 * 9.8 = k * 1.22 x 10^-2

k = 203.2 N/m

part b )

x = F/k = 143/203.2

x = 0.7037 m

U = 1/2 * kx^2

U = 1/2 * 203.2 * (0.7037)^2

U = 50.31 J

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