Question

two springs of constants 2.0*10^3 Nm and 3.0*10^3 Nm are connected in tandem, and a mass of 5.9kg hangs vertically from this spring. 1.) by what amount does the mass stretch the combined string? 2.) By what amount does the mass stretch each individual string?

Answer 1

x=mg/k

spring 1, 5.9*9.81/2000=?
spring 2, 5.9*9.81/3000=?

combined= spring 1 + spring 2


I answered my own question./

Answer 2

for springs connected in tandem
1/k=1/k1 +1/k2 =>
k=1200 N/m
the stretch is
x=mg/k=5.9•9.81/1200 =