UNIVERSITI TENAGA NASIONAL

MESD311

INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL LAB

SEMESTER 2, 2015/2016

PROJECT TITLE: SPRING MEASURING DEVICE ( HOOKE’S LAW SPRING

CONSTANT)

LAB INSTRUCTOR: MADAM FEVILIA NORNADIA ADRIA SYAIFOEL

SECTION: 1

GROUP: 3

GROUP MEMBERS ID
1) Mohd Afeef Bin Fuad DM87430

2) Mohd Syahnazirul Sahran DM87393

3) Shaererina Hussin DM87394

DATE PERFORMED DUE DATE

22th January 2016 th
26 January 2016
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE NUMBER

ABSTRACT
This project is conducted to fulfill the requirement of carry mark for subject Instrumentation and
Control. We are expected to conduct this project with putting all the theories learned in this
course throughout the whole semester taught into application where we are required to design,
fabricate, build and test the prototype measuring devices. In this project, we are required to
design a measuring device which can measure mass or force up to a certain limit using spring
type. The project also conducted in order to obtain the spring constant for a steel helical spring
by using Hooke’s Law. The experiment is conducted according to the procedure.

The measuring device is then tested at least for 10 measurements from the measurement device.
The result obtained is then used to calculate the mean, variance and standard deviation of the
data. The uncertainty of the measured values also calculated. In this project also we identified the
problem uncounter and giving the solution for it. The result and analysis from the testing phase is
then further discussed in discussion section.

OBJECTIVE

 To design a mass measuring device that can measure at least 10 trial measurements from
the measurement device.
 To determine the mean, variance and standard deviation of the data obtained.
 To calculate the uncertainty of the measured values.
 To understand the Hooke’s Law.
 To determine the spring constant using the data obtained.
 To understand the working principle of the spring system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM

 The experiment is conducted in order to obtain the spring constant for a steel helical
spring by using Hooke’s Law
F=kx
 F for force / mass
 k for spring constant
 x for deflection

The project experiment is conducted using a homemade spring which is made up from an
aluminium tin, spring, hooks, steel rod which is used to hang the spring between the hole made at
the end of the tin and rice as the weight. The rice consists of 0.25kg, 0.5kg and 0.75kg. The mass
is the converted to weight by using formula:
w=m∗g
 m for mass
 w for weight
 gravity( 9.81 m/ s2)
The system has been done by hanging the load to the spring. The deflection of the spring
is then recorded. The deflection was used to determine the spring constant by deriving the
equation of Hooke’s Law
k =F /x
Where,

K=spring constant

F=Force(N)

X=Deflection of spring(m)
LITERATURE REVIEW

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Apparatus & Material

 Spring
 Hooks
 Aluminium can
 Ruler
 Load( Rice 0.25kg, 0.50kg and 0.75kg)

Procedure

1. The apparatus and material of the experiment are prepared.

2. The spring is hooked to the steel road.
3. A ruler is attached to the aluminium can to measure the deflection of the spring.
4. Three different weight of load is used as the load to be hang to the spring, rice, 0.25kg,
0.50kg and 0.75kg.
5. The experiment is started by taking the reading of deflection at 0kg mass is applied.
6. The data is recorded to the table.
7. Step 5 and 6 is repeated by using the 0.25kg and 0.50kg load.
8. At 0.75kg, 10trial is conducted to obtain the result.
9. The result is recorded to the table.

RESULT

Deflection is defined as x= The length- original length.

Table:

Mass(kg) Force(N) Deflection(m)

0 0 0
0.25 2.4525 0.015
0.50 4.905 0.029
0.75 7.3575 0.057
At 0.75kg(7.3575N) = 0.057m according to data above.

Trials Force(N) Deflection(m)

1 7.4824 0.052
2 7.4556 0.055
3 7.4654 0.055
4 7.5047 0.058
5 7.4850 0.056
6 7.4948 0.057
7 7.5047 0.058
8 7.5047 0.058
9 7.5047 0.057
10 7.4752 0.055

xi dt dt2
7.4824 -0.0053 2.809E-5
7.4556 -0.0311 9.672E-4
7.4654 -0.0223 4.973E-4
7.5047 0.017 2.89E-4
7.4850 -0.0027 7.29E-6
7.4948 -0.0071 5.041E-5
7.5047 0.017 2.89E-4
7.5047 0.017 2.89E-4
7.5047 0.017 2.89E-4
7.4752 -0.0125 1.56E-4
∑xi = 74.877 ∑dt = -0.013 ∑dt2 = 2.86E-3

Calculation:

Mean value:
74.877
=
10
= 7.4877

Mean deviation:
−0.013
=
10
= -0.0013
Standard deviation, σ:
2.86E-3
=
√
= 0.0169
10

Best Estimate of Precision, Sn:

10
¿
√ (10−1)
= 0.13703
(0.0169)

Best Estimate of Uncertainty, Un:

0.13703
= = 0.04
√ 10

= 7.4877±0.04N

Problem Encounter and Solution

There are some problems exist that is realized only after the calculation for the stiffness of the spring
have been made. The stiffness of the spring should result in the same value for each load applied but
something unwanted problem was found. All the stiffness of the spring for each load is not the same as
can be seen in the table 2.

From the solution obtained we have realized there is some mistakes during conducting the experiment.

And for some trial of different load we found out that there are some distraction on unbalancing weight
due to hanging that we used by free hand. So the scale of the spring is a little bit off due to unbalanced
support. The solution that we took by attached the spring balance to a supportive balance tools(a nail
attached to branch) so the errors become lesser and more accurate.