Newton’s Laws of Motion

LECTURE 6
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Newton’s Laws of Motion
LECTURE 6
Spring Force
Spring Force
 Spring Force

When no force acts on a spring, it is in relaxed

condition i.e. neither compressed nor elongated.
When it is pushed by a force F, it is
compressed and displacement x of its free
end is called compression.
When the spring is pulled by a force F,
it is elongated and displacement x of
its free end is called elongation.
 Relaxed spring x=0 Equilibrium / Mean position

Compression
Compressed spring

Force by spring on the

wall

Force by wall on Force by hand Force by

spring on spring spring on hand
Elongation
Elongated spring

Force by wall on
spring

Force by spring on Force by spring on Force by hand on

wall hand spring
Hooke’s Law
Hooke’s Law
Hooke’s Law
Relaxed spring x = 0 Equilibrium / mean position
How spring force F varies
with deformation in length x
Compressio
of the spring is also shown in n
Compressed spring
the following figure.
Elongation

Elongated spring

Spring force

Compression Extension
Hooke’s Law
The force F varies linearly with x and acts in a direction opposite to x.
Therefore, it is expressed by the following equation.
F = −kx

Here, the minus (−) sign represents the fact that force F is opposite to x.

The constant of proportionality k is known as spring constant.

The slope modulus of the graph equals to the spring constant.

SI unit of spring constant k is newton per meter or (N/m).

Dimensions of k are MT−2

Example A mass M is suspended as shown in Figure. The system is in
equilibrium. Assume pulleys to be massless. K is the force
constant of the spring. The extension produced in the spring is
given by
A. 4Mg/K
B. Mg/K
C. 2Mg/K
D. 3Mg/K

M
Example A mass M is suspended as shown in Figure. The system is in
equilibrium. Assume pulleys to be massless. K is the force
constant of the spring. The extension produced in the spring is
given by
A. 4Mg/K
B. Mg/K
C. 2Mg/K
D. 3Mg/K
Example The system is in equilibrium. Pulleys are massless. K is the
force constant of the spring. Find the net tension force acting
on the lower support.
A. Mg
B. 2Mg
C. 3Mg
D. 4Mg

M
Example The system is in equilibrium. Pulleys are massless. K is the
force constant of the spring. Find the net tension force acting
on the lower support.
A. Mg
B. 2Mg
C. 3Mg
D. 4Mg
Example The system is in equilibrium. K is the force constant of the
spring. If each of the pulley A and B has mass M, Find the net
tension force acting on the lower support.
A. 2Mg
B. 6Mg
C. 3Mg
D. 4Mg
M

M
Example The system is in equilibrium. K is the force constant of the
spring. If each of the pulley A and B has mass M, Find the net
tension force acting on the lower support.
Example On applying a force F the point ‘P’ is displaced vertically down
by y from equilibrium position Find the force F in terms of the
force constant k of the spring & displacement y, for the cases
(A) and (B)
 On applying a force F the point ‘P’ is displaced vertically down by y
Example
from equilibrium position. Find the force F in terms of the force
constant k of the spring and displacement y, for the cases (A) and (B)
Solution:
Case. (A)
At point P : F =T …..(ⅰ)
And for the equilibrium of the pulley , 2T = Fs …..(ⅱ)
But as due to shift of point P by y , the spring stretches by (y/2) , so
Fs = k(y/2) ….(ⅲ)
So Substituting Fs from Eqn. (ⅲ) in Eqn. (ⅱ)
And then T from Eqn. (ⅱ) in Eqn. (ⅰ), we get F = (k/4)y ...(A)

Case(B) as tension in massless string and spring will be same, T = F’s …(ⅰ)
For Pulley : F = 2F’s
...(ⅱ)
Now if mass M shifts by y the spring will stretch by 2y (as string is inextensible)
F’s = k(2y)
…(ⅲ)
So, Substituting F’ from Eqn. (ⅱ) in Eqn. (ⅲ), F=(4k)y ….(B)
 One end of a massless spring of natural length 3R/4 is attached to the lowest
Example
point O of the wire track. A small ring of mass m, which can slide on the
track, is attached to the other end of the spring. The ring is held stationary of
point P such that the spring makes an angle of 60° with the vertical. The
spring constant k = (mg/R).
At the instant when the ring is released :-
Determine the tangential acceleration of the ring and the normal reaction
between ring and track.

g
Solution:

1. The free body diagram of the ring is shown in figure. The

forces acting on the ring are:
a. The weight mg acting vertically downwards
b. Normal force N by the wire track.
Normal force on the ring could be either radially outwards or →
radially inwards depending on whether the ring presses against
the inner surface or outer surface of the track. To ascertain
whether normal force is inwards or outwards assume that, to
→
begin with, it is inwards, then from ∑F = ma find the Value of
normal force, if it is positive it is inwards if it is negative, it is
outwards.
a. Force of the spring kx. In the given physical situation, the
spring is extended, it will pull the ring. So the spring force kx is
along the spring towards O.
Solution:

2. Length of the spring in the position shown = R.(CP = CO = R; ∠COP =

∠OPC = 60°; ∠COP is equilateral)
Change in length of the spring
=

Now from Ft = mat,

cos 30° + mg cos 30° = mat ⇒ at =

Now consider radial direction N ‘ kx cos 60° = mg cos 60°

N = mg cos 60° ‘ kx cos 60 ° =

String Cut Problems

•
m
String Cut Problems
Tension Spring Force
•

Instantly Vanishes/Changes Stays

m
 Example Two blocks are connected by a spring. The combination is suspended,
at rest, from a string attached to the ceiling, as shown in the figure.
The string breaks suddenly. Immediately after the string breaks, what
is the initial downward acceleration of the upper block of mass 2m?

2m

m
 Example Two blocks are connected by a spring. The combination is suspended,
at rest, from a string attached to the ceiling, as shown in the figure.
The string breaks suddenly. Immediately after the string breaks, what
is the initial downward acceleration of the upper block of mass 2m?

Step-I: Discuss the problem before cutting

Solution: the string: From force diagram of lower Kx0
T
block,Kx0 = mg. From force diagram of upper
block: T = 2mg + Kx0

Step-II: Discuss the problem after cutting the A B

string, 2mg + Kx0 = 2ma or 2mg + mg = 2ma

or 3mg = 2ma Kx0

2mg mg
Example The system of two weights with masses m1 and m2 are
connected with weightless spring as shown the system is
resting on the support ‘S’. Find the acceleration of each of the
weights just after the support ‘S’ is quickly removed.

m1

m2

support
Solution:

Force of spring does not change instantaneously so find spring force at initial
instant Initially m1g = kx when support is removed spring force does not change

For m1 : m1g - kx = m1a1 or a1 = 0

M1g M1g

For m2 : m2g - kx = m2a2 or a2 =

M1 M1

kx kx
m1 M2g
M2g kx
kx
m2 M2 M2

N=0
FBD initially
FBD when support is
support
removed
Example Three blocks are arranged with pulley and spring as shown
in the figure. If string connecting blocks m2 and m3 is cut at
point A. Find the accelerations of masses m1, m2, and m3
just after the string is cut at Point A.

•
A
m2
m3

m1
 Example Three blocks are arranged with pulley and spring as shown in the
figure. If string connecting blocks m2 and m3 is cut at point A. Find
the accelerations of masses m1, m2, and m3 just after the string is
Solution: cut at Point A.

Let us analyse the system at equilibrium. The forces acting on the

•
blocks are shown in figure.
Just after cutting the string at A, the tensions T and T’ will be
A
zero. But the spring force will remain unchanged just after cutting. m2
Figure shows the forces acting on the blocks just after cutting the m3
string.

m1

The forces acting on m1 just before and just after cutting the
string is same and just before cutting the string, equilibrium,
hence the acceleration of m1 will be zero just after cutting the
string.
Solution:

At equilibrium Fs = m1g
As Fs does not change just before and just after cutting the string,
acceleration of m2

From free-body diagram of block m3 just after cutting the string, only
m3g will act and

tensions in the string will disappear. Hence acceleration of m3 a3 =

Finally, acceleration of m1 = 0

Acceleration of m2 = and acceleration of m3 = g

Example Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 are in equilibrium. The block
m2 hangs from a fixed smooth by an inextensible string that
is fitted with a light spring of stiffness k as shown in the Fig.
Neglecting friction and mass of the string, find the
acceleration of the bodies just after the string S is cut.

m1

•
m2
 Example Two blocks of masses m1 and m2 are in equilibrium. The block m2 hangs
from a fixed smooth by an inextensible string that is fitted with a light
spring of stiffness k as shown in the Fig. Neglecting friction and mass
of the string, find the acceleration of the bodies just after the string S
is cut.
Solution:
FBD: Let the spring forces be F = kx just after cutting the spring.
Hence, at that instant the forces acting on m1 are T = kx → m1g 4↓
and N↑: on m2 the forces arc m2g ↓ and T↑.

Force equation: Initially, all the S kx T

particles are stationary; m1

•
T
T
m2

m2g
 Solution:
Hence a1 = a2 = 0. Applying Newton’s 2nd law
For m1: …(ⅰ)

For m2: …(ⅱ)

For spring : …(ⅲ)

Solving eq.(ⅰ), (ⅱ) and (ⅲ) we have

T’ = T = kx = m2g as shown in Fig.
Just after the string S is cut, tension T’ vanishes immediately, but the spring cannot
regain its shape and size instantaneously. Therefore, the spring remains as it is. Then,
just after cutting the string, the net force acting on m1 is equal to kx whereas the net
force acting on m2 is equal to T-m2g. Hence, the acceleration of m1 and m2 just after
cutting the string is given by

This gives and a2 = 0

Composite Springs
Springs in Parallel
keq F
Springs in Parallel
This situation is shown in figure If the
force F pulls the mass m by y, the
stretch in each spring will be y,
i.e., y1 = y2 = y

Now as for a spring F = ky and as k’s are not equal so F1 ≠ F2 but for
equilibrium

F = F1 + F2 i.e., ky = k1y1 + k2y2 [as F = ky]

which in the light of Eq. (i) reduces to k = k1 + k2 + ....

This is like capacitors in parallel or resistance in series.

keq = k1 + k2 + ....
Springs in Series
Springs in Series

keq F
Springs in Series
This situation is shown in figure

As springs are mass less, force in these must be

same, i.e.,

F1 = F2 = F (i)

Now as F = ky and k’s are not equal, stretches will not be equal,
i.e., y ≠ y2

But, y = y1 + y2 or [as for F = ky, y = (F/k) ]

which in the light of Eq. (i) reduces to

Example 4 identical springs are connected as shown each spring has a
spring constant of 10 N/m. Find the net extension of the
spring system on attaching a 25 kg mass
A. 5m
B. 10m
C. 15m
D. 25m

25 kg
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