A spring has a spring constant of k = 100 N/m. You hang a basket of apples that

Question

A spring has a spring constant of k = 100 N/m. You hang a basket of apples that weighs 10 N from the spring scale. What is the displacement of the spring scale? You now hang the apples (weight 10 N) from two spring scales In parallel (like in (B) above). What force does each spring scale read? What is the displacement of each spring scale? How does this compare to the displacement in the single spring scale case (problem 1)? You now hang the apples (weight 10 N) from two spring scales in series (like in (A) above). What force does each spring scale read? What is the displacement of each individual spring scale? What is the total displacement of the two spring scales? How does this compare to the displacement in the single spring scale case (problem 1)?

Explanation / Answer

1) Using

F=-kx

where k is spring's constant

x is displacement

F is force

We get

x=0.1m

2) Springs are in parallel so

k'=k1+k2= 2k(identical)

Using F=k'x

We get x=0.05m

a) So each spring reads 0.05*100=50N

b) Displacement is 0.05m

Half as compared to first case

3) Since springs are in series hence

k'=k1k2/k1+k2=k/2(identical)

Using F=k'x

x=0.2m( which is some of extension in both springs)

So both of them extend 0.1m each

a) Hence both springs will read 0.1*100=N

b) Displacement of each spring is 0.1m

c) total displacement is 0.2m

Double of what was there in part 1

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.