Question

Q.9) Consider a plot of the displacement (x) as a function of the applied force (F) for an ideal elastic spring as

Answer 1

Answer:

Option (D).

Explanation:

For an ideal spring, the force is given in terms of displacement as follows :

F=-kx

$x=\dfrac{-F}{k}\\\\\text{or}\\\\x=\dfrac{-1}{k}F$...(1)

Where,

x is displacement in spring i.e. compression or stretching

k is spring constant of the spring

-ve sign shows that the force exerted by the spring is in opposite direction of the spring's displacement.

The equation of a line is : y=mx+c, m is slope

From equation (1)

Slope = 1/k

or

Slope = reciprocal of the spring's constant.

It would mean that the slope of the curve represents the reciprocal of the spring's constant.