Three identical springs each have the same spring constant k.If these three springs are attached end to end forming a spring three times the length of one of the original springs,what will be the spring constant of the combination?
A)k
B)3k
C)k/3
D)1.73k

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When springs are connected end to end, they behave as if they are in series. In this case, there are three equal springs in series, so the effective spring constant is given by:

1/keff = 1/k + 1/k + 1/k
1/keff = 3/k

Thus, keff = k/3.

Three Identical Springs Each Have the Same Spring Constant K