Abstract :

The relationship between the displacement of an elastic material and the

restoring force. This experiment was also conducted to derive an empirical equation
describing simple physics system. This also measure the spring constant for the
spring used in spring balance.
The spring balance was hang vertically in the plastic tube.The zeroing screw
was adjusted so that the indicator is aligned with the 0 mark on the centimeter
scale of the spring balance. Then a mass with a 0.02kg was hang on the spring
balance. The spring displacement on the scale was measured. The value was
recorded in Table 1.1. The step was repeated with different mass. The total weight in
newtons for each masses was calculated with the formula below :

F=mg
After the weight was calculated, a graph was plotted to get the spring constant of
the spring. The graph was plotted with the data of Weight versus Spring
Displacement with Spring Displacement on the x-axis. Then the line that fits the data
drawn.The slope of the graph was the spring constant.

[1]

Introduction :
Most springs have an easily predicted behavior when a force is applied.
Consequently, the force that a spring applies to a body, as the spring is extended or
compressed, can be mathematically determined. This type of relationship can be described
by a number of mathematical relationships. If it is not stretched to the point where it
becomes permanently deformed, the behavior of a properly wound coiled spring, when
subjected to a stretching force, can be expected to follow Hooke's Law.

The concept of force is defined in Newtons second law as F = ma ; Force

= Mass Acceleration. Using this law, a force can be determined by measuring the
acceleration it produces on a body of known mass. However, this method is rarely
practical. A more convenient method is to compare the unknown force with an
adjustable force of known magnitude. When both forces are applied to an object,
and the object is not accelerated, the unknown force must be exactly opposite
in both magnitude and direction to the known force.
Hookes Law states that the force applied by the spring, F relates linearly
to the spring displacement from equilibrium, x. Mathematically Hookes Law is
written as
. The variable k, can be thought as proportionality constant between
force and displacement, or as the slope of a force versus displacement graph.
Physically k, provides a measure of spring stiffness. The variables k, is referred to
as the spring constant , because k takes on a unique value for each spring.

[2]

Objective :
The objective of this experiment is to determine the relationship between the
displacement of an elastic material and the restoring force. The experiment was also
conducted to derive an empirical equation describing simple physics system. This also
to measure the spring constant for the spring used in the spring balance.

Theory :

If a weight ,W = mg is hung from one end of an ordinary spring, causing it to

stretch a distance x, then an equal and opposite force ,F, is created in the spring
which acts to oppose the pull of the weight. If W is not so large as to permanently
distort the spring, then this force F will restore the spring to its original length after
the load is removed. F is thus called an elastic force and it is well known that the
magnitude of an elastic restoring force is directly proportional to the stretch,

F = kx
The constant k is called the spring constant or stiffness coefficient. To emphasize that
x refers to the change in length of the spring,we write

F = mg = k l
In this form it is apparent that if a plot of F as a function of l has a linear
portion, this provide conformation that the spring follow Hookes Law and enable us
to find k.

[3]

Figure 1.1

Apparatus :
-Experiment Board

-Masses

-Spring scale

-Mass hanger

[4]

Methodology :
The spring balance was hang to the Experimental Board. The spring was
vertically in the plastic tube. Then the zeroing screw was adjusted until the indicator
is aligned with the 0 m mark on the centimeter scale of the spring balance.
A mass hanger with a (.02kg) mass was hang on the spring balance. The
measure of the spring displacement was measured and recorded in Table 1.1. The
value of the mass of the mass hanger (.005) was also included in the total mass.
The total mass hanging from the spring balance was adjusted by hanging
additional masses. The spring displacement for each values was recorded. To get the
correct force in newtons the mass values must be in kilograms. The total weight in
newtons for each masses used was determined by the formula of

F = mg

Result and Discussion :

Mass (kg)

Weight (N)

.025
.075
.125
.175
.225
.275
.325

0.245
0.735
1.225
1.715
2.205
2.695
3.185

Spring Displacement
(m)
0.6
1.9
3.3
4.6
6.0
7.3
8.7

Table 1.1
A spring can still measure the force because there are some springs made that
do not obey Hookes law. Some spiral springs do not, and it can get constant force springs
in which the force is not dependent on displacement.
Hooke's Law is useful when calibrating a spring for measuring force; it is an
equation that describes the relationship between the distance from equilibrium the
spring has been stretched "x" and the amount of force it would push or pull against
something ( at that distance.) The spring constant is a measure of how hard or soft
the spring composition is. A really tough spring would have a big spring constant (big
number) ...a soft spring that is easy to stretch would have a small spring constant
(small number).
With a force meter and displace a spring ; measure the distance (in meters), and the
force (in Newtons), this will the spring constant.
If F = kx then k = F/x
Force = (spring constant "k") (displacement "x")

[5]

Graph of Weight (N) versus Spring Displacement (m)

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

Calculation :
Weight of masses : mass x acceleration
F = mg
= 0.025 kg x 9.8 m/
= 0.245 N
Spring Displacement from mm to m :
6 mm 10 m
= 0.6 mm
Spring constant :

= 26.67 newtons / meter.

[6]

0.25

0.3

0.35

Conclusion :
Hookes Law is useful to measure a force. The spring constant can be
determine by the spring displacement and the masses that was used.The spring
constant also can determine the maximum load that a spring can handle. The
Hookes Law provide a very simple physics to measure force.

Recommendation :
Make sure that the spring hangs vertically in the plastic tube to avoid friction
force with the plastic tube wall.

References :
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/repository/ap04_physics_jacob_ho_40050.p
df
http://it.stlawu.edu/~koon/classes/221.222/221L/SampleFormalLab.pdf
http://www.stkate.edu/physics/phys111/curric/forces.html
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqkZrWe2HPMFGOiYRFtkRQMh4wt.;_ylv
=3?qid=20090815215528AAfHXvw
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgNplZ3QodhF8x8u_ABKbFUh4wt.;_ylv=3
?qid=20070902050529AABYIWW

HOOKE'S LAW AND A SIMPLE SPRING ,DONALD C. PECKHAM ,PHYSICS 307, FALL
1983 (Digitized and Revised, Fall 2005)

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