Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Spring Constant

ffImage
Last updated date: 15th Mar 2024
Total views: 405.6k
Views today: 11.05k
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon

Definition and Explanation of Spring Constant

Simple Harmonious motion i.e. SHM is a veritably intriguing type of stir. It's constantly applied in the oscillatory motion of the objects. Springs generally have SHM. Springs have their own native “ spring constants'' which define how stiff they are. Hooke's law is a notorious law that explains the SHM and gives a formula for the force applied using spring constant.


For example, ask if a group of car designers will knock on your door and help develop a suspension system. "Of course," you say. They say the car weighs 1,000 kilograms and requires the use of four shock absorbers, each 0.5 meters long. How strong should the feathers be? Assuming these shock absorbers use springs, each must support a weight of at least 250 kilograms: 


 F = mg = (250 kg) (9.8 m / s2) = 2,450 N 


Where F is the force, m is the mass of the object, g is the gravitational acceleration, 9.8 meters / sec2. The spring in the shock absorber will, at a minimum, have to give you 2,450 newtons of force at the maximum compression of 0.5 meters. What does this mean the spring constant should be? In order to figure out how to calculate the spring constant, we must remember what Hooke`s law says:


F = –kx


Now, we need to rework the equation so that we are calculating for the missing metric, which is the spring constant, or k.


The springs used in the shock absorbers must have spring constants of at least 4,900 newtons per meter.


Spring Constant Units

Spring constant definition is related to simple harmonic motions and Hooke's law. So, before we try to define the spring constant and understand the workings of the spring constant, we need to look at Hooke's law. According to the theory of elasticity, when a load is applied to spring it will naturally extend proportionally, as long as the load applied is less than the elastic limit. Now we know that when force is applied to an object, it tends to deform in some way. 


Consider a spring, when we apply force on one side of the spring, it will get compressed, as they are elastic. At this time the spring exerts its force in the direction opposite to the applied force, to expand to its original size. Therefore, to define the spring constant, we first define Hooke's law. Hooke's law is defined as the force required by the spring to revert to its size is directly proportional to the distance of the compression of the spring.


(Image to be added soon)


The image shows the movement of the spring when force is applied to one side.


Spring Constant Definition

To understand the spring constant definition, we will look at Hooke’s law formula. Hooke’s law formula is also known as the spring constant formula. The formula is given below.


Formula

F = -kx

Spring Constant Units

Nm-1


Where F represents the restoring force of the spring, x is the displacement of the spring, and k is known as the spring constant. The spring constant units are given as Newton per meter. 


Now that we know that k is the spring constant, we will look at the spring constant definition. We define spring constant as the stiffness of the spring. In other words, when the displacement of the spring is one unit, we can define the spring constant as the force applied to cause that said displacement. Therefore, it is clear to say that, the stiffer the spring is, the higher will be its spring constant.


Spring Constant Dimensional Formula

According to Hooke’s law, we know that,


F= -kx


Therefore, 


k= -F/x


Now we know that the unit of force is given as Newton (N), or as kg m/s2.


Therefore, we can write the dimensional unit as [MLT-2].


We also know the dimensional unit of x is given as L


Applying spring constant formula, we get, 


\[[\frac{MLT^{-2}}{L}]\]


k= - [MT-2]


The spring constant unit is in terms of Newton per meter (N/m).


Solved Problems

Question 1) A spring is stretched by 40cm when a load of 5kg is added to it. Find the spring constant.


Answer 1) Given,


Mass m = 5kg,


Displacement x = 40cm = 0.4m


To find the spring constant, we first need to find the force that is acting on the spring. 


We know that F = m * x


Therefore, F = 5 * 0.4


F = 2N


The load applies a force of 2N on the spring. Hence, the spring will apply an equal and opposite force of – 2N.


Now, by substituting the values in the spring constant formula we get,


k = -F/x


k = \[\frac{-2}{0.4}\]


k = 5 N/m


Therefore, the spring constant of the spring is 5N/m


Question 2) Consider a spring with a spring constant of 14000N/m. A force of 3500N is applied to the spring. What will be the displacement of the spring?


Answer 2) Given,


Force F = 3500N,


Spring constant k = 14000N/m,


We can calculate the displacement of the spring by using the spring constant formula.


x= \[\frac{-F}{k}\]


The load applies a force of 3500N on the spring. Hence the spring will apply an equal and opposite force of – 3500N.


Thus,


x = \[-(\frac{-3500}{14000})\]


x = 0.25 m


x = 25 cm


Therefore, the spring is displaced by a distance of 25cm.


Conclusion

This is how the spring constant is determined and calculated. The formula is defined using the terms to determine the various physical quantities. Understand how this constant is utilized in solving different problems from the given examples.

FAQs on Spring Constant

1.Can Spring Constant Take A Value Of Zero, or Can It Be Negative?

According to Hooke’s law,


F= -kx


Here, the negative sign tells us that the force applied by the spring will always be on the opposite side of the force applied by the load. This is because the spring will always try to get to its original length. The spring constant represents the stiffness of the spring; hence it should always have a positive value. 


If the spring constant is zero, it means that the stiffness of the spring will be zero. It will no longer be a spring as no force will be acting in the opposite direction. Now if the spring constant were to be a negative value, it would mean that instead of an equal and opposite force, the spring will apply a force in the direction of the displacement. This means that even if the spring is stretched by a single unit, it will continue stretching infinitely.

2.What Happens To The Value Of Spring Constant When Several Springs Are Connected In Series Or Parallel?

When springs are connected in series the force acting on both the springs will be equal, which is in turn equal to the external force. 


Consider two springs connected in series with spring constant k1 and k2 respectfully. A force F is applied to one side of the spring. We know that,


k = \[\frac{-F}{x}\]


X1 is the displacement of spring 1, and X2 is the displacement of spring 2.


X = X1 + X2


Therefore, 


\[\frac{F}{k}\] = \[(\frac{F}{k_1})\] + \[(\frac{F}{k_2})\]


\[\frac{1}{k}\] = \[(\frac{1}{k_1})\] + \[(\frac{1}{k_2})\]


When springs are connected in parallel, the force acting on both springs will be divided, but the deflection will be the same. 


Consider two springs connected in series with spring constant k1 and k2 respectfully. A force F is applied to one side of the spring. We know that,


F = -kx


F1 is the force acting on spring 1, and F2 is the force acting on spring 2.


F = F1 + F2


Therefore, 


kx = k1x + k2x


k = k1 + k2.

3.What is the Definition of Spring Constant?

The spring constant is that the force insists on stretching or compressing a spring, divided by the space that the spring gets longer or shorter. It’s used to determine stability or insecurity in the spring, and thus the system it’s intended for. As a formula, it alters Hooke’s Law and is indicated through the equation k = – F/x. Where k is the spring constant, F is the force requested over x, and x is the relegation by the spring expressed in N/m.

4. What is the concept of Spring Force?

For the Springs, there is a position at which they are neutral. When they are stretched or compressed, afterward there is a restoring force that will consistently point in the direction of the equilibrium position. Pendulums are neutral during straight-down hanging. If a pendulum is pulled away from its equilibrium position, then it dangles back and forth as it is acted on by tension force and gravity. Spring is a tool used conventionally and its inertia is regularly neglected due to negligible mass. 

5.What are springs used for?

Scooping a ballpoint pen (one of the notables with a button you can click to retract the ball) and you will discover a spring on the inside. Take a look under your car and you will see springs there too, serving as the shock absorbers to ease out the bumps in the road. You will see springs in watches and clocks, as we have earlier seen. And there's spring even in the car speedometer (at least, one of the old-school mechanical ones). Once you've started noticing spring, you'll find springs everywhere.

Students Also Read