Class Group: S19

Lab Group’s No: 3

CENTRE OF FOUNDATION STUDIES

FOUNDATION PHYSICS I
LABORATORY REPORT

Experiment

Hooke’s Law
Name Athirah Alya binti Nor Afendi
Student ID 2020494846
Lab Instructor’s Name Madam Nur’ain Hamdan
Date of Experiment 18 August 2020
Member 1 Ameliah Fatihah binti Mahadhir
Member 2 Anis Syaqira binti Anuwar
Member 3
Member 4

Marks

Comment
ABSTRACT

Hooke’s Law is a principle of physics that states that the force needed
to extend or compress a spring by some distance is proportional to that
distance. The problem statement of this experiment is how elongation
of Spring A and Spring B obey Hooke’s Law. The purpose of this
experiment is to determine the spring elasticity of the spring. As
weight is added to the spring, pulling it down , the spring will stretch
more. Therefore, we say that the force applied is related to the strain
produced. The experiment used apparatus such as 2 springs labelled
3N and 5N , meter scale, Hooke’s Law apparatus and masses. This
experiment was done with 8 trials. That is the distance the spring
stretches depends on the amount of weight we add which is the more
weight added, the more stretch produced. In this way the elasticity of
the spring can be measured as the spring constant for that spring. The
precision of data in spring A is 10.8% while in spring B the precision
of data is 11.11%. The energy of elastic spring of spring A is 0.0231 J
while in spring B , the energy of elastic spring is 4.64 𝑥 10−2 J . By
graphing the elongation of the spring versus the weight of the mass in
gravity , we will reveal Hooke’s Law of Springs, a direct relationship
between stretch and strain which describes the operation of springs and
spring scales.
INTRODUCTION

The problem statement of this experiment is how elongation of Spring A and

Spring B obey Hooke’s Law. The objective of this experiment to test Hooke’s law
by using different springs.

Hooke’s Law is a principle of physics that states that the force needed to elongate
or compress a spring by some distance are proportional to that distance. This law
explains the relationship between the forces applied to a spring and its elasticity.
When we apply a force to a spring, it can cause the spring to compress, to elongate
or to bend. This is because of the elastic potential energy that stored as a result of
deformation of an elastic object, such as spring. An object designed to store elastic
potential energy will typically have a high elastic limit, however all elastic objects
have a limit to the load they can sustain. When deformed beyond the elastic limit,
the object will no longer return to its original shape. This experiment was
conducted to determine the value of spring constant,k using two different spring.
It is a measure of the spring’s stiffness. When a spring is stretched or compressed,
so that its length changes by an amount x from its equilibrium length, then it exerts
a force F = -kx in a direction towards its equilibrium position.

The law is named after 17th century British physicist Robert Hooke, who sought
to demonstrate the relationship between the forces applied to a spring and its
elasticity. This can be expressed mathematically as F= kX, where F is the force
applied to the spring (either in the form of strain or stress) X is the displacement
of the spring, with a negative value demonstrating that the displacement of the
spring once it is stretched and k is the spring constant and details just how stiff it
is. Hooke's law is the first classical example of an explanation of elasticity, which
is the property of an object or material which causes it to be restored to its original
shape after distortion. This ability to return to a normal shape after experiencing
distortion can be referred to as a "restoring force". Understood in terms of Hooke's
Law, this restoring force is generally proportional to the amount of "stretch"
experienced. It is an accurate approximation for most solid bodies, as long as the
forces and deformations are small enough. It is extensively used in all branches of
science and engineering. And is the foundation of many disciplines such as
seismology, molecular mechanics and acoustics. It is also the fundamental
principle behind the spring scale, the manometer, and the balance wheel of the
mechanical clock. (R.Vishalashi , 2017)
APPARATUS
Stand with graduated scale, scale pan for masses, springs,
and set of masses.

PROCEDURE

1. Apparatus was set up as the figure shown.

2. The length, yo of spring A was measured without the scale pan and masses.
3. Mass of the scale pan, mpan was weighed and being hooked onto the spring.
The length , y1 , of the spring was measured. 25g of mass, mmass was added
into the scale pan.
4. The length, y2 of the spring was measured. Step 3 was repeated by using
the mass 50g , 75g , 100g , 125g and 150g.
5. 5.The whole procedure was repeated to get the second reading to calculate
the average reading. The same steps were repeated by using Spring B.
RESULT AND ANALYSIS

Spring A (3N)

Elongation
Length of spring, y (m) of spring,
Mass, Total Force, ∆y (m)
mmass mass, F = mg (N) Reading Average
(kg) (mpan + yn reading, Δy̅ = y̅n̅−y̅ ̅o̅
1 2
mmass) (kg) y̅n̅
0.01079 0.01079 0.10585 Y0 0.070 0.065 0.0675 0.0000

0.00493 0.01572 0.15421 Y1 0.080 0.085 0.0825 0.0150

0.02500 0.04072 0.39946 Y2 0.130 0.130 0.1300 0.0625

0.04990 0.06562 0.64373 Y3 0.185 0.184 0.1845 0.1170

0.07480 0.09052 0.88800 Y4 0.238 0.237 0.2375 0.1700

0.09986 0.11558 1.13384 Y5 0.290 0.289 0.2895 0.2220

0.12480 0.14052 1.37850 Y6 0.345 0.340 0.3425 0.2750

0.14953 0.16525 1.62110 Y7 0.398 0.400 0.3990 0.3315

Spring B (5N)

Elongation
Length of spring, y (m) of spring,
Mass, Total Force, ∆y (m)
mmass mass, F = mg (N) Reading Average
(kg) (mpan + yn reading, Δy̅ = y̅n̅−y̅ ̅o̅
1 2
mmass) (kg) y̅n̅
0.02867 0.02867 0.28125 Y0 0.082 0.085 0.0835 0.0000

0.00493 0.03360 0.32962 Y1 0.085 0.087 0.0860 0.0025

0.02493 0.05853 0.57418 Y2 0.095 0.095 0.0950 0.0115

0.04990 0.08350 0.81914 Y3 0.105 0.105 0.1050 0.0215

0.07497 0.10857 1.06507 Y4 0.115 0.115 0.1150 0.0315

0.09973 0.13333 1.30798 Y5 0.125 0.125 0.1250 0.0415

0.12487 0.15847 1.55459 Y6 0.135 0.135 0.1350 0.0515

0.14966 0.18326 1.79778 Y7 0.145 0.145 0.1450 0.0615

GRAPH
SPRING A (3N)
SPRING B (5N)
ERROR IN GRAPH

Centroid value of the graph of spring 3N

0 + 0.0015 + 0.063 + 0.117 + 0.170 + 0.222 + 0.275 + 0.332

𝑿=
7
= 0.171 m

0.106 + 0.154 + 0.399 + 0.643 + 0.888 + 1.134 + 1.379 + 1.621

𝒀=
7
= 0.903 N

Centroid value of the graph of spring 5N

0 + 0.002 + 0.011 + 0.021 + 0.031 + 0.041 + 0.051 + 0.061

𝑿=
7
= 0.031 m

0.281 + 0.330 + 0.574 + 0.819 + 1.065 + 1.308 + 1.555 + 1.798

𝒀=
7
= 1.104 N
SAMPLE CALCULATION
SPRING A (3N)
SPRING B (5N)
DISCUSSION

Firstly, the mass hanger is hung vertically to the lower part of the spring and the
masses of 25g, 50g, 75g, 100g, 125g and 150g were added to the spring. When the spring
stopped moving, the length of the spring was measured and recorded. Two equal and
opposite forces acted on the hanging mass which directed downward and the spring’s
elastic restoring force directed upward, in the opposite direction of displacement. Using
the formula of Hooke’s Law, the spring constant is calculated by using F=kx. The average
spring constant of spring A is (4. 61±0.5)N/m and for spring B is (4.92±2.77)N/m.

The force against the elongation graph resulted in the expected line in range of
forces and obey Hooke’s Law. The slope of this line is the spring constant, the average of
spring constant for spring A and spring B had been stated which is (4.61±0.5)N/m and
(4.92 ± 2.77)N/m. Formula F=kx is used to calculate the above spring constant, k. The
intercept for the best fit line intersects close to the origin, which is also consistent with
Hooke’s Law.

The source of error in this experiment is the error when reading the measurements
from the ruler, such as a parallax error by reading the measurement from an angle or
choosing the closest marker to represent the measurement. Avoid this error by making
sure the position of the eye is perpendicular to the measuring instrument used which is
the meter ruler. Secondly, the other source of error is the meter ruler used to make the
measurements may not have been accurate.This error can be prevented by comparing the
results to other results obtained independently.When lighter slotted masses were used, the
oscillations were so fast and random error can occur. Suggested that, the spring should be
let to oscillate more so that the results will be more precise.

For each measurement, this observation was required. The displacement was the
difference between the position and the reference. Therefore, this parallax error should be
reduced. The random error of measurement is in term of the precision. The precision
percentage of spring A is 10.8% while percentage of spring B is 11.11%. The area under
the graph of best line which represent the energy of elastic spring for spring A is 0.0231J
and energy of elastic spring for spring B is 4.64 x 10-2 J. The centroid point of Spring A is
0.171 m while the Spring B is 0.031 m. The error of gradient for Spring A is ±0.50 and for
Spring B is ±2.77.

Based on the experiment and the calculation, it shows that different springs
produce different spring constants. In this experiment, the springs that we used were 3.0N
and 5.0N. The difference in elongation of springs is caused by the spring mass used. The
trends that we observe in this experiment is the elongation of spring increases as the mass
hung on the spring increases.
POST-LAB QUESTION

1. Spring B used in this experiment obeys Hooke’s law, determine the value of
elongation, y of a spring if a total mass of 0.5 kg is attached to it? Show your
calculation.

F = ky
F = mg
Mg = ky
(0.5)(9.8) = (25)y
4.9
y= 25

y = 0.196 m

2. Spring C consists of spring A and spring B that are connected in series.

Calculate the elongation of spring C if a 30 g mass was supported from the spring.

30 𝑔
k a+b = 4.56 + 25 m=
1000 𝑔
1kg = 1000g
= 29.56 N/m = 0.03 kg

mg = ky
(0.03)(9.8) = (29.56)y
0.294
y=
29.56

y = 0.0099 m
CONCLUSION

If the diameter of the spring increases, the spring constant would decrease.
We got the best fit line which almost hit all the points with a single straight line in
the graphs. It’s a method to verify Hooke’s Law. Based on the result and the
graphs, we verified Hooke’s Law. The diameter of the spring is a factor that
influences the spring constant. Hooke’s Law was verified from this experiment
when both spring A and B showed a straight line graph between spring force and
elongation of spring. The spring constant of spring A is (4.61±0.5)N/m and spring
B has spring constant (4.92±2.77)N/m.

REFERENCE

1.R. VISHALASHI , 2017 , Application of Hooke’s Law in Elasticity. PARIPEX. Vol

6 (11).
2. Fabio Menezes de Souza Lima, Gustavo Mulim Venceslau, Eliana des Reis Nunes ,
2002 , A New Hooke’s Law Experiment . THE PHYSIC TEACHER . Vol 40 (35-36)