stretching a spring

• Why is it important for the meter rule to be vertical?

  To ensure accurate readings of the spring's length
• What must be attached to the bottom of the spring?

  A wooden splint as a pointer
• What does the unstretched length of the spring represent?

  The length of the spring with no force applied
• How do you calculate the extension produced by a weight?

  Subtract the unstretched length from the new length
• What is the extension produced by a 1 Newton weight?

  4 cm
• What type of graph is produced when plotting extension against weight for a spring?

  A straight line graph through the origin
• What does a straight line graph indicate about the relationship between force and extension?

  Extension is directly proportional to weight
• What term describes a relationship that produces a straight line graph?

  Linear relationship
• How does the behavior of a rubber band differ from that of a spring?

  A rubber band shows a nonlinear relationship
• What happens to the spring if too much weight is added?

  The graph becomes nonlinear and overstretched
• What is inelastic deformation?

  When the spring does not return to zero extension
• What is the limit of proportionality?

  The maximum weight before the spring becomes nonlinear
• How can the spring constant be determined from the graph?

  By dividing force by extension on the linear part
• What happens to the spring constant if the limit of proportionality is exceeded?

  The spring constant may no longer be valid