Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences

LAB FINAL- Summer 2020

Instructor: Sakiba Shahnaz Student Name: Rehnuma Naher Sumona
Course Code: PHY-109 Student ID: 2019-1-60-001
Total Time: 50 mins Section:01
Total Marks: 10 Date :20-09-2020

Name of the Experiment:

To determine the spring constant of a given spiral spring

Theory:
Spring Constant:
When a force is applied to the free end of a spiral spring suspended from a fixed support, the
spring stretches in a normal manner and obeys Hooke’s law. The ratio of the applied force and
the extension of spring is a constant and is known as the spring constant.

Apparatus: [2]
(1) A spiral spring,
(2) convenient masses with hanging arrangement
(3) top pan balance
(4) a rigid framework of heavymetal rods
(5) stop watch
(6) meterscale

Data Sheet: [3]

Table: Data for extensions for different loads
No. of Load Reading of bottom end of the Extension
obs. m spring on the vertical scale x
Kg l meter
meter
1 0(No load) lo = 0.49m L0–L0=0

2 0.1 l1=0.64m L1-

L0=0.15m
3 0.15 l2 =0.74m L2-
L0=0.25m
4 0.2 l3 =0.81m L3-
L0=0.32m
 5 0.25 L4=0.88m L4-
L0=0.39m

Calculation: [3]
mg
Spring Constant =
x Slope of Extension vsload Graph

=g/(x/m)
=9.8 m/s 2 / (Slope of extension vs load graph)
=9.8/3.437
=2.85 N/m

Experimental value of Effective mass ( X axis intercept of (Time period) 2 Vs Load graph ), m’
m’= 0.49 Kg.
Mass of the spring, m 0 = 1.47 kg.
Result: [1]

Spring constant, K =2.85 N/m

Effective mass, m’ = 0.49 Kg.

Discussion:

1. In this experiment, the stretch of a spring changes as the force applied on the
springchanges. As the stretch increases, the force increases, and it is a constant increase.
2. A large number of oscillations should be counted for determining the period of
oscillation.
3. The spring constant, k, is the gradient of the straight-line portion of the graph of F vs. x;
in other words, force applied vs. displacement from the equilibrium position.

[1]