I'm attempting to solve a simple equation for work done when pulling a spring with a mass attached to it from point A to point B. Point A is the length of the spring with a mass attached to it, and point B is a fixed length after I've done an unknown amount of work. I've already figured out the spring constant.
Work = force x compression distance, and since the force applied is changing over time and I'm trying to find total work I have to take the integral from A to B with respect to distance; that's the work done if the mass wasn't on the spring, I understand that much. But how does the mass already pulling on the spring come into this, when work is involved? Do I ignore that force since it was what pulled down the string from relaxed to point A to begin with, or do I have to account for that when integrating somehow?
...I'm not quite sure why I'm asking B8, but there's gotta be someone here who's a science-related major who finds this easy to conceptualize <_<
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KrahenProphet and Kana are on opposite ends of the Awesome Spectrum.