Allen Tang, Alan Jia, Henry Licht

Mr. Sample
AP Physics Pd. 5
31 August 2017

Spring Bungee Jump

Purpose: Determine where to position clamps so that when a hooked mass is

attached to bottom of spring and released from rests, the bottom of mass makes
contact with the water but does not touch the bottom of the cup.

Data:
Distance Stretched (m) Mass added (kg)
0.018 0.0109
0.035 0.0159
0.05 0.0209
0.065 0.0259
0.079 0.0309

Calculations:
Part A
F=Fg-Fs=ma
Fg-kx=m0
Fg=kx
Fg/x=k

Weight=Fg=mg

Displacement (m) Weight (N)

0.018 0.10682
0.035 0.15582
0.05 0.20482
0.065 0.25382
0.079 0.30282

Slope=y/x=Fg/x=k
Slope of graph=3.2198=spring constant k

Part C
Wnet=Wgravity-Wspring=KE=(1/2)mvf2-(1/2)mv02
Wgravity-Wspring=(1/2)m(0)2-(1/2)m(0)2=0
Wgravity=mgh Wspring=(1/2)kx2 h=x
mgh-(1/2)kx2=0
mgx=(1/2)kx2
mg=(1/2)kx
x=2mg/k=2(.05035)(9.8)/(3.2198)=.306497 m

Graphs:

This graph shows the positive correlation between the displacement of the mass
and the weight of it as it hangs from a string. The displacement increases as the
weight of the mass increases.

Discussion:

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate and utilize Hookes law of force
exerted and work done by a spring. The first objective was to find the spring constant (k).
This was accomplished by first measuring the length of the spring with no weight
attached and then recording the downward stretch of the spring at equilibrium as weight
was attached to the hanging end. The stretch length (displacement) and attached weight
for each of five tests were then designated x and y respectively, the data points were
graphed, and as demonstrated in calculations, the slope of the best-fit curve represented k.
Once k was known, the challenge was to find the maximum distance that the spring
would stretch when released from x=0 with a given mass attached. This was another
calculation, essentially finding the point at which the potential energy of the spring
equaled initial gravitational potential energy. Seeing that the bungee jumper did not get to
fully enjoy the experience of dipping his feet in the water, it is clear that errors were
made that could have stemmed from multiple factors. For one, the designers were too
concerned about the safety of the individual and actually overcompensated for the length
of the jumper which proved to be a mistake. Additionally, the mass of the spring was not
taken into account while calculating the work of gravity. Not only this, but in the
preparations beforehand, it is entirely possible that the measurements made were not
accurate because of the difficulty to make it the spring stay in equilibrium, which made
the spring bob up and down skewing the perceived length it was stretched. Overall, the
safety of the bungee diver should have been less of a concern, and if anything we should
have undercompensated for his height because of the small amount of buoyant force
upward that would have been added once he hit the water. Possibly insignificant, the
buoyant force in addition to not including the work of gravity on the spring itself could
have slightly altered the results. By lying the spring flat on the table and then measuring
the length, an accurate reading could have been obtained without the spring stretched due
to its own mass. A small miss, the designers underestimated the depth of the water which
ultimately led to a less than superb bungee jumping excursion.