An equipment platform rests symmetrically on six identical compression springs. A component placed at the centre of the platform exerts an additional downward force of 1800 N, shared equally by the springs. Each spring has a spring constant of 25 000 N/m25\,000\ \text{N/m}25000 N/m and operates in its linear elastic region.
Calculate the additional compression of each spring when the component is placed on the platform.
102 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 15.1 Forces and springs, covering 15.1.1 Elastic and inelastic distortion, 15.1.2 The spring constant, 15.1.3 Work done in stretching a spring, and 15.1.4 Linear and non-linear force–extension. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.