- #1
Maxo
- 160
- 1
Let's say we have a spring with 10 coils and a spring constant of k=100 and compress from the right it a distance of 1 cm, we have to apply force F = k*x = 100*0.01 = 1 N. But if we then compress it from both left and right, and apply half the force from the first case to each side, shouldn't that give an equal displacement?
I understand it doesn't because of the restoring force of the spring which in the second case will be in the same directions as the forces applied. But I don't understand exacly how the restoring force is related to the forces applied. The spring constant must be the same in each case, right? So only the force applied and the displacement must change. So then how can we find out how much the string is displaced from equilibrium in the second case?
(Btw this is not a homework question, I just made this example up in order to understand the principle behind how springs work.)
I understand it doesn't because of the restoring force of the spring which in the second case will be in the same directions as the forces applied. But I don't understand exacly how the restoring force is related to the forces applied. The spring constant must be the same in each case, right? So only the force applied and the displacement must change. So then how can we find out how much the string is displaced from equilibrium in the second case?
(Btw this is not a homework question, I just made this example up in order to understand the principle behind how springs work.)