Question

If two springs of spring constants 2 N/m are connected in series then their Keff is:

(a) 2 N/m (b) 4N/m (c) 4/3 N/m (d) 6 N/m

Answer 1

When two springs are connected in series, the effective spring constant (Keff) is not simply the sum or product of their individual spring constants. Rather, it's determined by the reciprocal of the sum of their reciprocals.

If we have two springs, both with spring constants K1 = 2 N/m and K2 = 2 N/m, then their effective spring constant when connected in series (Keff) is given by:

1/Keff = 1/K1 + 1/K2

Plugging in the values, we have:

1/Keff = 1/2 + 1/2 = 1

Therefore, Keff = 1/1 = 1 N/m

However, none of the options match this answer. It's possible there may be a mistake in the provided spring constants or the options. Please double-check the details. If the spring constants are indeed 2 N/m each, then the effective spring constant for the two springs connected in series should be 1 N/m, following the formula for springs connected in series.