PHYSICS FORM 4

HOOKES LAW
States that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the stretching force acting on it provided the elastic limit of the spring is not exceeded

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FORCE AND EXTENSION OF A SPRING

AIM :
To investigate the relationship between force and extension of a spring.

WHAT ARE THE VARIABLES ?

FIXED

: Type of spring

MANIPULATE : Mass of slotted weight

RESPONDING : Spring extension, x

What is our hypothesis today ?

The extension of the spring is directly proportional to the stretching force.

FIGURE
Metre rule

Spring
Pin Slotted weight

Retort stand

PROCEDURE :
1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

The apparatus is set up as shown in the figure above. All the weights are removed from the spring. The original length of the spring is measured using a half metre rule. A 20 g weight is hung from the end of the spring. The length of the spring is measured again and the extension is calculated. Repeat step 3 with 40 g, 60 g, 80 g, and 100 g weight. Plot graph of force against extension.

Length of spring, L0 = ? Cm
Assume g = 10 ms
Mass of slotted weight, m/g 20 40 60 80 100 Force on the spring, ( F = mg ) / N 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 Extension, x ( L Lo ) / cm

NOW LETS DO THE EXPERIMENT

DISCUSSION

 At the end of the experiment, all the weights are removed. The length of the spring is checked to determine whether the spring is able to return to its original length. This is to ensure that the spring is not stretched beyond its elastic limit.

 The graph is a straight line passing through the origin. This shows that the extension of the spring, x is directly proportional to the stretching force, F .

CONCLUSIONS

 The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the applied force. The hypothesis is valid.