Now suppose that we have attached not just two springs in series, but / springs. Write an equation that expresses the effective spring constant of the combination using the spring constant of the original spring & and the number of springs N. d. Is the combination of many springs connected in series softer, stronger, or the same as a single spring? (Here, softer means easier to stretch and stronger means harder to stretch.) Next, let's consider the effect of linking fibers to the same connecting point on either end. This kind of connection is referred to as "parallel". Consider the same two identical springs each having spring constant *, but this time with both linked at each end to the same object. Equal tension forces y are applied to the objects connecting the springs together . e. Again we will consider this combination as a single effective spring. If one spring stretches a distance A f when pulled by the force y, how much would this combined spring stretch when pulled by the same force 7? Explain your answer . (Hint: draw free body diagrams of the objects to which the springs are connected.) f. If we define the effective spring constant of the combined springs by the equation T = k ,9, AL where A Lis the total amount the parallel springs stretch (your answer to part e), how is ky,, related to A