Hooke's Law with Series Springs

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maulucci
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Homework Statement



The problem is in the attachment

Homework Equations



F=-kx
k1x1=k2x1

The Attempt at a Solution



I got as my answer Keq= (k1k2)/(k1+k2)

i just wanted to see if i had the right idea or no.
 
Attachments
  • Figure 6.1 showing two springs in series: left, spring k1 with length d1 and extension x1 holding mass m1; right, combined springs with constants k1 and k2, lengths d1 and d2, extensions x1 and x2, holding mass m2.
    Capturenn.PNG
    18.3 KB · Views: 668
Welcome to PF;
i just wanted to see if i had the right idea or no.
... then you need to tell us the idea and not just the final result you got ;)
 
-k1x1=-k2x2=F
F=-keq*x
solving for x1
x1=[(k2)/(k1+k2)] +x2
putting into F=-k2x2+k2x1
F=x2 (-k1k2-k2^2+k2^2)/(k1+k2)
simplified
F=-[(k1k2)/(k1+k2)]*x2

then the Keq = (k1k2)/(k1+k2) ?