Scribd
Upload
58 views5 pages

Simplified Theory: Version: 28 Feb 06

1. The document describes an experiment to test Hooke's Law, which states that the restoring force (F) of an object is proportional to its displacement (x). A spring is hung from a clamp and weights are added to stretch the spring. The elongation (x) is measured for each weight. 2. The masses and elongations are plotted on a graph with F on the y-axis and x on the x-axis. A best fit line is drawn and its slope gives the spring constant (k), which is the ratio of change in force to change in displacement. 3. The data should form a straight line according to Hooke's Law. Non-linearity would indicate the spring does not obey

Uploaded by

xiaochai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
58 views5 pages

Simplified Theory: Version: 28 Feb 06

1. The document describes an experiment to test Hooke's Law, which states that the restoring force (F) of an object is proportional to its displacement (x). A spring is hung from a clamp and weights are added to stretch the spring. The elongation (x) is measured for each weight. 2. The masses and elongations are plotted on a graph with F on the y-axis and x on the x-axis. A best fit line is drawn and its slope gives the spring constant (k), which is the ratio of change in force to change in displacement. 3. The data should form a straight line according to Hooke's Law. Non-linearity would indicate the spring does not obey

Uploaded by

xiaochai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

law

PHYS 1313
Prof. T.E. Coan

Version: 28 Feb 06

Simplified Theory
Hookes Law is the statement that the restoring force acting on an object is proportional
to the negative of the displacement (deformation) of the object. In symbols,
F = -k x

(1)

Here, F is the restoring force provided by whatever is being stretched (or squeezed), x is
the displacement of the thing being stretched (or squeezed)., and k is the constant of
proportionality. The negative sign (-) is important and just says that the restoring force is
opposite in direction to the displacement. For example, if a spring is stretched by
something in a certain direction, the spring will exert a restoring force on that something
but in the opposite direction. Equation (1) also says that for an object which obeys
Hookes law (such as a spring), the more it is stretched or squeezed, the greater will be
the restoring force supplied by the object on whatever is doing the stretching or the
squeezing. An applied force (F) acting on our Hookean object will cause it to be
displaced (stretched or squeezed) by some amount (x). The ratio of the change in applied
force (F) and the change in the resulting displacement (x) is called the spring
constant (k) and can be written as follows:
k =

(2)

Todays experiment will test this relationship for a large spring. By hanging different
masses from the spring we can control the amount of force acting on it. We can then
measure for each applied weight the amount that the spring "stretches. Since Equation
(1) is the equation for a straight line, a graph of F (the weight) versus x (the "stretch")
will should yield a line with slope k . Equation (2) tells us the same thing and its
appearance should remind you of how to compute the slope of a straight line.
Procedure
1. Install a table rod with a rod clamp near its top. Suspend a helical spring from the
clamp with the large end up.
2. Attach a 50 g weight hook with a 50 g slot mass on it to the spring. Record the initial
mass of 100 g as m1. The parameter m will represent the total mass on the spring.

3. Place the meter stick vertically alongside the hanging mass. Measure the elongation
of the spring and record it as x1. Always be sure to measure starting at the same place,
either on the table or on the clamp.
4. Add a 50 g slot mass to the hook and record m2 (150 g). Read the meter stick and
record x2. Repeat, finding x3 , x4 , x5 , and x6 with total masses 200 g, 250 g, 300 g,
and 350 g. Record all the masses and elongations on the form provided.
Analysis
1. Convert all masses to Newtons and all meter stick readings to meters.
2. Plot all the data on the graph paper. F will be plotted in the vertical direction, while x
will be plotted in the horizontal direction. Label the axes of your graph and include
units.
3. Take a straight edge and draw a single "best fit" line through all the data points.
4. Measure the "rise over run" (the slope) of this line. This is your experimental value
for the spring constant. In what units should k be reported?
Conclusions
1. Write down you general conclusions for this experiment. These conclusions should
include the value of the spring constant k and an estimate of its error.
2. Did your plotted data form a straight line? Does the data from another shape, perhaps
a parabola?
3. If your graph was not a straight line, what does this tell you about the spring?

4. Consider a set of two identical springs each of spring


constant k connected in parallel (side by side) to a single
mass. What would you expect the total spring constant to
be of the system? Why? (Hint: think about the spring
force as a vector.)

M
Error Analysis
Look at how much the points scatter around your "best fit" line. The more they scatter,
the poorer the precision. Does the graph form some other shape besides a straight line,
such as a parabola? (This could mean that Hooke's Law is not valid for this spring.) What
is your estimate of the error in k and how did you estimate this error? What are the

sources of error for your data points and what is the relevance of these errors in your
determination of k?

Hooke's Law
PHYS 1313
Prof. T.E. Coan

Version: 29 Jul 99

Name _________________________________Section _________


Abstract:

Data

n
1
2
3
4
5
6

Graph Separately.

k =
Conclusions

Error Analysis:

F = mg

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy