Question

A beam, the weight of which may be neglected, is supported by three identical springs. When a weight W is hung from the middle of the beam, the extension of each spring is x.

Click to see diagram: http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u32/Codefusionlab/Springs.jpg

The middle spring and the weight are removed.
What is the extension when a weight of 2W is hung from the middle of the beam?

Answer 1

let the extension in all the springs be x
therefore kx=mg
kx=10w
x=10w/k

Answer 2

The answer is 3x

Answer 3

no it will be 2x