Passage IV

A student studied the properties of spring systems using weights and 3 identical, low-mass springs.

Study 1

The student suspended 1 spring from a support and measured the length of the spring. He attached a 10 N ( newton) weight to the spring and again measured the length of the spring (see Figure 1).

The student calculated the amount the spring was stretched by the weight He repeated the measurement using ocher weights. The results are shown in Table 1.

The spring constant, K. is the amount of force that must be exerted to stretch a spring a given amount. Based on Table 1, K for this spring was 100 N/m.

Study 2

The student suspended 2 of the springs in series (end to end ) from the support and measured their amount of stretch with various weights attached. He repeated the pro­cedure with 3 springs in series (see Figure 2).

The results are shown in Table 2.

For 2 springs in series, K was 50 N/m: for 3 springs in series, K was 33 N/m.

Study3

The student suspended 2 of the springs in parallel (see Figure 3).

The student measured the amount or stretch with various weights attached. He repented the procedure with 3 springs in parallel. The results are shown in Table 3.

For 2 springs in parallel, K was 200 N/ m; for 3 spring in parallel, K was 300 N/m.