- #1
chrom68
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I have two springs arranged in series (remember circuit diagrams from physics class!).
One has a low stiffness constant (K1 = 5) and the other connected to it has a much higher contant (K2 = 100). According to the equation (as used in wikipedia):
[tex]
\frac{1}{k}=\frac{1}{k_1}+\frac{1}{k_2}
[/tex]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooke%27s_law"
Question 1)
Using this i get my equivalent spring constant to be K = 4.76, which is less than K1?
I don't understand why. I would expect the equivalent constant to be much higher (but less than K2=100).
Question2)
This formula doesn't consider the initial lengths of each spring. How could it do so?
One has a low stiffness constant (K1 = 5) and the other connected to it has a much higher contant (K2 = 100). According to the equation (as used in wikipedia):
[tex]
\frac{1}{k}=\frac{1}{k_1}+\frac{1}{k_2}
[/tex]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooke%27s_law"
Question 1)
Using this i get my equivalent spring constant to be K = 4.76, which is less than K1?
I don't understand why. I would expect the equivalent constant to be much higher (but less than K2=100).
Question2)
This formula doesn't consider the initial lengths of each spring. How could it do so?
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