WTMA Springs and Elasticity 3

Question 1

A spring has a spring constant of 10 lb/in. How much force is needed to compress it 6 inches?

Accepted Answer

60 lb

Answer

By Hooke's Law, F = k × x = 10 lb/in × 6 in = 60 lb.

Question 2

Which factor does NOT affect a coil spring's stiffness?

Accepted Answer

Color of the wire

Answer

Wire diameter, coil diameter, and number of active coils all affect spring stiffness; wire color has no effect.

Question 3

A bungee cord stretches far more than a steel spring under the same load. This means the bungee cord has a:

Accepted Answer

Lower spring constant

Answer

Greater stretch under the same load means less resistance to deformation, which corresponds to a lower spring constant.

Question 4

When a compressed spring is suddenly released, the stored energy is primarily converted into:

Accepted Answer

Kinetic energy

Answer

The elastic potential energy stored in a compressed spring converts to kinetic energy as the spring returns to its natural length.

Question 5

Spring A stretches 2 inches under a 10-lb load; Spring B stretches 1 inch under the same 10-lb load. Which spring is stiffer?

Accepted Answer

Spring B

Answer

Spring B has k = 10 lb/in versus Spring A's k = 5 lb/in, so Spring B is stiffer.

WTMA - Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude Practice Test