Answer to Question #182787 in Physics for Magellan

Question

When the hanging mass is stationary, the force that a very stiff spring exerts on the hanging mass is ________ the force that is exerted on the same hanging mass by a very soft spring?

Answer 1

When the hanging mass is stationary, the force that a very stiff spring exerts on the hanging mass is equal to the force that is exerted on the same hanging mass by a very soft spring.

Explanation: the reason for this is that both springs 'experience' force by Hooke's law, which is spring constant (stiffness) times elongation. And the springs stops extending when the force by Hooke's law is the same as the weight. Since the weight is the same (we use the same object), the force exerted by both springs is the same.