PHYSICS FORM 4

FRIDAY, 28 JULY 2006

Have you seen this before?

PROBLEM
The spring supporting the cradle extends when a child climbs into the cradle. The force due to the weight of the child causes the spring to extend. The spring in a weighing scale extends when an object is placed on the pan. What is the relationship between the force that extends a spring and its extension?

EXPERIMENT 2.4

Title
Relationship between force and extension of a spring

AIM

To investigate the relationship between force and extension of a spring

INFERENCE

The extension of a spring is affected by the stretching force

HYPOTHESIS

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

MATERIAL/APPARATUS

Steel spring, five 20 g slotted weights, holder, meter rule, retort stand with clamp, needle and plasticine .

(a) manipulated: Mass of the weight (b) responding : Extension of the spring (c) fix : Type of spring

Variables

Procedures

1. The apparatus is set up as shown in the figure above. 2. All the weights are removed from the spring. The original length of the spring is measured using meter rule.

3. 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.

4. Step 3 is repeated with 20 g, 40 g, 60 g, 80 g and 100 g weights. 5.The graph of force against extension is plotted.

LETS DO THE EXPERIMENT BE CAREFULL!! 30 minutes

Results

Mass of slotted weight, m/g

Force on Length of Extension, the spring, x=(L spring, ( L / cm Lo ) / cm F = mg ) /N

Force, F

Extension, X

Discussion:
1. The graph of force against extension is a straight line passing through the origin. This means that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the load or applied force on the spring.

2. The Hookes law is obeyed. - The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the applied force provided elastic limit is not exceeded. 3. The expression of Hookes Law is as follows: F = kx

PRECAUTIONS DURING EXPERIMENT???

Parallax error while reading the meter rule

Conclusion :
The extension of a spring is directly proportional to the applied force. This is supports the hypothesis

DONT FORGET! PASS UP YOUR LAB REPORT ON FRIDAY 4/8/06

THANK YOU CLASS. SEE YOU NEXT LESSON