Springs in series and springs in parallel

Aim
To find out how the spring constant for systems of springs is related to that of a single spring.
Requirements
steel springs, tensile
mass hangers with slotted masses, 100 g
retort stand base, rod, boss and clamp
short length of cylindrical wood stick (or similar) to combine springs in parallel
G-clamp if the retort stand base is light weight
Background
ach spring is described by !ooke"s law, # $ k%&, for small e&tensions, %&, of the spring.
Qualitative Observations
'ou should do the following e&ercises on your own, e(en if you are in a lab group. )t is important that
you *feel+ the stiffness of a spring or a certain combination of springs.
1. ,sing your hands stretch the spring by itself and note whether the spring is easy to stretch or hard
to stretch.
-. .onnect two springs end to end. )n this orientation, we say that the springs are connected in series.
/tretch the springs and note whether it is easier or harder to stretch the springs, compared to
stretching one spring alone.
0. 1ow, hold the springs so that they are parallel to one another. )n this orientation, we say that the
springs are connected in parallel. 2ull the ends of both springs simultaneously. )f this is too difficult
to do, you might want to connect the ends of the springs with paperclips or use a wood stick. 3gain,
note whether it is easier or harder to stretch than one spring alone.
4. 5ank the springs in order of stiffness from low stiffness to high stiffness. )n other words, rank them
in order from *easier+ to stretch to *harder+ to stretch.
Experiment
1. /et up the apparatus to measure the stiffness of the springs.
-. 6easure the stiffness, k (1m
-1
), of the following springs7
a. /ingle spring
b. Two springs in series
c. Two springs in parallel
d. Three springs in series
e. Three springs in parallel
Application
1. 8rite an e9uation to calculate the effecti(e spring stiffness for 1 identical springs that are connected
in series. 'our answer should be in terms of k, the stiffness of a single spring, and 1 the total number
of springs connected in series.
-. 8rite an e9uation to calculate the effecti(e spring stiffness for 1 identical springs that are connected
in parallel. 'our answer should be in terms of k, the stiffness of a single spring, and 1 the total number
of springs connected in parallel.
0. .alculate the theoretical stiffness for the two springs in series, the two springs in parallel, the three
springs in series, and the three springs in parallel.
4. .alculate the : difference between the measured and theoretical (alues for effecti(e stiffness of
the series and parallel pairs of springs using the e9uation below.
% 100
_
_ _
% x
value l theoretica
value l theoretica value measured
difference

=