springs

• what does hooke's law state?

  force and extension are directly proportional. F = ke
• what is the equipment needed for the practical?

  G-clamp, clamp stand, metre ruler, weights of 10N, spring, a pointer (splint), safety glasses
• Steps of the practical

  1. Secure a clamp stand to the bench using a G-clamp

  2. Use bosses to attach two clamps to the clamp stand

  3. Attach the spring to the top clamp, and a ruler to the bottom clamp

  4. Adjust the ruler so that it is vertical, and with its zero level with the top of the spring

  5. Measure and record the length of the spring

  6. Hang a 100 g slotted mass carrier (weight 0.98N) from the spring. Measure and record the new length of the spring

  7. Add a 100 g slotted mass to the carrier. Measure and record the new length of the spring

  8. Repeat step 7 until you have added a total of 1,000 g

  9. Plot a line graph with extension on the y axis, and force on the x axis. Draw a suitable line of best fit
• what would you expect the results to look like?

  a straight line passing through the origin, the variables should be directly proportional.
• list 2 potential hazards and safety measures you'd take:

  1. equipment falling on feet causing bruises/fracture -> g clamp to secure stand & don't have feet under where the weights are hanging

  2. spring recoiling/ breaking, damaging the eyes -> safety glasses
• what type of energy is stored in the spring as it's stretched?

  elastic potential energy
• how can you avoid a systematic error in this experiment?

  line up 0cm with bottom of spring
• how can you avoid a random error?


  make sure you're at eye level when measuring