CSEC Physics

Prep for Success

Series 2
Part two
Graphs
Hooke’s Law

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 Jan 2010 P3/2. Q2
Graphs
Hooke’s Law

Two fourth form Physics students were asked to work together to investigate the relationship between
extension, e, and the stretching force, F, for a spiral spring. Four sets of their results are shown in the
figure below.

(a) Use the diagrams shown above to complete Table 1.

Mass (m) /g Stretching force (F) /N Scale Reading /mm Extension (e) /mm
0 0 10.0 0.0
200 2 12.1 2.1
400 4 14.3 4.3
600 6 16.3 6.3
800 8 18.4 8.4
1000 10 21.4 11.4
1200 12 25.2 15.2
(4 marks)

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(b) On graph paper, plot a graph of extension, (e) against stretching force, (F).

(8 marks)

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(c) Identify the part of the graph where Hooke’s law is NOT obeyed. Label the beginning and end
of the part as A and B respectively.

( 1 mark)

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(d) Calculate the gradient of the straight line portion of the graph

y 2− y 1
gradient =
x 2−x 1
8.4−0.4 mm
gradient=
8.0−0.4 N
8.0 mm
gradient=
7.6 N
−1
gradient =1.05 mmN
−1
gradient=1.1 mmN 2 sig. fig .
(4 marks)

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(e) Use the graph to find the mass that would give an extension of 5.0 mm.
(Acceleration due to gravity = 10.0 ms-2).

Use the graph to find the force that produces an extension of 5 mm

Find y = 5 mm on the y-axis and read the corresponding value on the x-axis.
This graph reads 4.8N
Using W= mg, where W is the weight (force), m is the mass and g is acceleration due to
gravity, we can find the mass that produces a force of 4.8 N
W =mg
W
m=
g
4.8 N
m=
10.0 ms−2
m=0.48 kg

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 (2 marks)

(f) Identify ONE possible source of error and ONE precaution to be taken in conducting this
experiment.

One precaution is to take the readings of the length of the spring at eye level to avoid errors
due to parallax.

One source of error could arise from the measuring instrument, the ruler, as it can only be
accurate to a degree of half of the smallest division. The smallest division on the ruler is 0.1
mm and answers can only be given accurately to 0.05 mm, hence this is a source of error.
(2 marks)

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