Two identical light springs are attached side by side (in parallel) to a rigid support
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Force and Translational Dynamics · Force and Translational Dynamics
Problem
Two identical light springs are attached side by side (in parallel) to a rigid support. A body of mass 6kg is hung from the free ends and the system comes to rest after stretching a total of 6cm downward. Take g=9.8ms−2.
(i) Assuming the springs share the load equally and obey Hooke’s law, calculate the spring constant of each spring.
(ii) Compute the potential energy stored in each spring and hence find the total energy stored in the system.
(iii) Compare this total energy with the energy that would be stored if the same mass were hung from a single spring of the same spring constant and allowed to extend by 6cm. Explain the reason for any difference in the two energies.