Question

As a student in a physics lab, you are asked to classify two springs. Right away you notice some differences. The first spring, spring 1, is very easy to compress and pliable. The second spring, spring 2, is stiffer and more difficult to deform. What qualitative statement can you make about their spring constants?
A. No inference can be made, the student needs to take a measurement.
B. The spring constant of spring 1 is larger than spring 2.
C. The spring constant of spring 2 is larger than spring 1.
D. The spring constants are the same because spring 1 has more displacement, while spring 2 requires more force.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The spring constant of spring 2 is larger than spring 1.

Explanation:

As we know that spring constant also called the stiffness constant of a spring is the value of force required for the deformation of the spring by a unit length.

Mathematically given as:

$k=\frac{F}{\delta x}$

where:

$k=$ stiffness constant

$F=$ force on the spring

$\delta x=$ change in length of the spring

It is given in the question that spring 1 is easily compressible and requires less force to compress as compared to spring 2 and hence it has lesser stiffness constant than that of spring 2.