Hooke's Law Experiment. Aim: To determine the spring constant.
Extracts from this document...
Introduction
Title: Hooke’s Law
Aim: To determine the spring constant.
Equipment:
- Retort stand (with clamp)
- Spring (with hook)
- Masses ( 100g, 200g, 300g, 400g, 500g )
- Ruler
Variables:
Independent Variable:
- Changing the mass ჻ Weight force (F).
Dependent Variable:
- The extension of the spring Δx.
Control Variable:
- “Spring” → Dimensions of the spring.
→ Mass of the spring.
→ Radius of the spring.
- “Retort Stand” → Height of the retort stand.
Method:
- The spring (its dimensions, mass and its radius) were measured in its initial face.
- The spring was then place in the clamps of the retort stand and was held together tightly enough to hold it in place.
- At the end of the spring (where the hook is), a mass of 100 grams was placed and as a result the spring started to extend downwards.
Middle
Results Table:
Mass(g) | Weight (N) | Trial 1(cm) | Trial 2(cm) | Trial 3(cm) | Trial 4(cm) | Trial 5(cm) |
Conclusion
The results are definitely not totally accurate (as shown in the table), because the measurements were read off the meter stick by eye to the nearest mm .Movements in the room by other people caused vibrations which also contributed slightly to the inaccurate results.
...read more.
Solutions to those problems:
- Using a brand new identical spring could help solve the problem of the elasticity, since the spring can now sustain its elastic restoring force that is directed upward.
- The measurements could be performed using a digital ruler, which would have been a lot more accurate that the measurement performed by a naked eye.
- The solution to the problem of the vibration and the general movement of people in the room, is to perform the experiment in a more isolated and “quiet” area, so there are no interferences whatsoever.
This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our International Baccalaureate Physics section.
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- 150,000+ documents available
- Just £6.99 a month
