Combinations of Springs

Springs in Series
- Consider two springs with force constants k1 and k2 connected in series
supporting a load F = mg.
- Let the force constant of the combination
be represented by k
- For the combination, supporting the load F=mg:
k1
F = kx
( where x = the total stretch )
and

x=

F
k

- For each spring

- the bottom supports mg=F and stretches by x1
F = k1 x1

k2

F
or x1 =
k1

- the top spring support mg plus the weight

of the bottom spring (which is negligible Thus F is the stretching force for both springs)
F = k2 x2 or x2 =

F
k2

F = mg

- The total stretch

x = x1 + x2

and

or

F F F
= +
k k1 k2

1 1 1
= +
k k1 k2

Springs in Parallel
- Consider two springs with force constants k1 and k2 connected in parallel
supporting a load F = mg.
- Let the force constant of the combination
be represented by k
- For the combination supporting the load F=mg:
k1
k2
F = kx
( where x = the total stretch )
- The two individual springs both stretch by x
but share the load (F = F1+F2) and
F1 = k1 x while
F2 = k2 x
- Thus the total force is
F = F1 + F2
or

F2

F2

m
kx = k1 x + k2 x

F = mg

and

k = k1 + k2