Question
A spring balance has a scale that reads from 0 to 50 kg. The length of the scale is 20 cm. A body suspended from this balance, when displaced and released, oscillates with a period of 0.6 s. What is the weight of the body?
Solution
Maximum mass that the scale can read, M = 50 kg
Maximum displacement of the spring = Length of the scale, l = 20 cm = 0.2 m
Time period, T = 0.6 s
Maximum force exerted on the spring, F = Mg
where,
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2
F = 50 × 9.8 = 490
∴ Spring constant, k =
Mass m, is suspended from the balance.

∴Weight of the body = mg
= 22.36 × 9.8
= 219.167 N
Hence, the weight of the body is about 219 N.
Maximum displacement of the spring = Length of the scale, l = 20 cm = 0.2 m
Time period, T = 0.6 s
Maximum force exerted on the spring, F = Mg
where,
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s2
F = 50 × 9.8 = 490
∴ Spring constant, k =

Mass m, is suspended from the balance.

= 22.36 × 9.8
= 219.167 N
Hence, the weight of the body is about 219 N.