Springs and Elasticity Flashcards
7 cards from real Bennett Mechanical Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Springs and Elasticity flashcards as text
In a car suspension system, coil springs are used primarily to:
Answer: Absorb road shocks and maintain tire contact
Suspension springs absorb bumps and vibrations from the road surface, keeping the tires in contact with the ground for control and comfort.
Which statement correctly describes springs connected in series?
Answer: They experience the same force but have different extensions
In series, the same force (load) passes through each spring, but each spring extends individually so the total extension is the sum of all extensions.
What material property makes steel well-suited for manufacturing springs?
Answer: High elastic limit and ability to return to its original shape
Steel has a high elastic limit, meaning it can be deformed significantly and still return to its original shape, making it ideal for springs.
A spring scale (like a hanging fish scale) operates on the principle that:
Answer: Extension is proportional to applied force
Spring scales use Hooke's Law — the extension of the spring is proportional to the weight applied, which is then read off a calibrated scale.
When a valve spring in an engine is compressed by the camshaft, what form of energy is stored in the spring?
Answer: Elastic potential energy
Compressing a spring stores elastic potential energy, which is released to push the valve closed when the camshaft lobe passes.
If a spring is cut in half, what happens to the spring constant of each piece?
Answer: It doubles
A shorter spring has fewer coils to share the deformation, so each half is twice as stiff — the spring constant doubles.
Which of the following best defines the elastic limit of a spring?
Answer: The point beyond which permanent deformation occurs when force is removed
The elastic limit is the maximum stress (or force) a spring can experience and still return to its original shape; beyond it, plastic deformation occurs.