Physics Waves DUHS 2022
PMDC Verified Question 67 of 125
If the given spring of spring constant K is cut into three identical segments the spring constant of each segment is:
A
1K
B
K/2
C
K/3
D
3K
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option D: 3K
Concept:

The stiffness (spring constant, \( k \)) of a spring is inversely proportional to its un-stretched length (\( L \)).

Formula:

$$ k \propto \frac{1}{L} $$

Solution:

  • A shorter spring is physically stiffer and harder to stretch than a longer one made of the same material.


  • If the original spring is cut into 3 identical segments, the length of each new segment is \( L_{new} = \frac{L}{3} \).


  • Because of the inverse relationship, the new spring constant becomes \( k_{new} = 3K \).


Why other options are incorrect:

Option C (\( K/3 \)) is a common mistake where students assume spring constant scales directly with length rather than inversely.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

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