Lab. Exercise No.

Spring Stiffness Constant

Section: ________ Date: ________

Name: ___________________ Student’s ID _________________

Simulation for Spring Stiffness Constant:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/masses-and-springs-basics/latest/masses-
and-springs-basics_en.html
 Spring Stiffness Constant
After completion of this experiment, the student will be able:
1. Study the Hooke’s law.
2. Find spring stiffness constant for different springs.

Apparatus
1. Support base variable,
2. Support rod with hole (stainless steel, 100 mm)
3. Support rod (stainless steel, 600 mm)
4. Boss head
5. Weight holder for slotted weights-10g
6. Slotted weights
7. Helical spring
8. Holding pin
9. Measuring ruler, l = 1 m.

Theory
Hooke's law is a principle of physics that states that the force (F) needed to extend or compress a
spring by some distance X is proportional to that distance. That is: F = kX where k is a constant
factor characteristic of the spring: its stiffness, and X is small compared to the total possible
deformation of the spring.
When forces act on a solid body, the body is deformed. This resulting deformation depends
largely on the material of the body. If the solid body regains its original shape after the removal
of force, the material is called elastic. A helical spring is a very simple example of an elastic
body. The elongation (deformation) produced in helical spring is proportional to the forces 𝐹𝑔
exerted by the weights that are hanged by this spring. Mathematically we can write this as

𝐹𝑠 = 𝑘∆𝑋 (8.1)

∆ Fg (8.2)
k=
∆x
∆𝑋 is the elongation
produced in the spring due to
a force 𝐹𝑔exerted by the weight hanging from the spring.
Procedure
Part – 1
1. Hang the weight holder (𝑚 = 50𝑔) on the hooked end of the spring and
record the extension 𝑋 (see the Figure 8.1)
2. Increase the mass in a step of 10𝑔 until a load of total of 140 𝑔 is
reached. Record in the Table 8.1 the corresponding changes in
elongation 𝐿 for each mass value at each step.
3. Calculate the weight (force) 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚 × 9.81 after converting the mass
from gram to kilogram, for each mass.
4. Record all the values for the mass m and the extension 𝑋 in Table 8.1.

Observations
I. For given helical first spring (Use equation editor)
Table 8.1 Record the extensions in the spring 1

Elongation
Elongation
Obs Mas Mas Weight (Force) in First
in first spring
. s sm 𝑭𝒈 = 𝒎𝒈 Spring
X1
No. (g) (kg) N X1
(mm)
(m)
1 50 0.05 kg 0.05*9.8=0.49 N 13 mm 0.013 m

2 60 0.06 kg 0.06*9.8=0.58N 15 mm 0.015 m

3 70 0.07 kg 0.07*9.8=0.68N 17 mm 0.017 m

4 80 0.08 kg 0.08*9.8=0.78N 20 mm 0.020 m

5 90 0.09 kg 0.09*9.8=0.88N 22 mm 0.022 m

6 100 0.1 kg 0.1*9.8=0.98N 25 mm 0.025m

7 110 0.11kg 0.11*9.8= 27 mm 0.027m

8 120 0.12kg 0.12*9.8= 30 mm 0.030m

9 130 0.13kg 0.13*9.8= 32mm 0.032m

10 140 0.14kg 0.14*9.8= 35 mm 0.035m

Part – 2
1. Replace the helical spring 1 with the helical spring 2.
2. Hang weight holder (𝑚 = 50𝑔) on the hooked end of the spring and record the extension 𝑋.
3. Increase the mass in a step of 10 𝑔 until a load of total of 140 𝑔 is reached. Record in the
Table 8.2 the corresponding changes in elongation X for each mass value at each step.
4. Calculate the weight (force) = 𝑚 × 9.81 after converting the mass from gram to kilogram,
for each mass.
5. Record all the values for the mass m and the extension 𝑋 in Table 8.2.
Observations
For given helical spring 2
Table 8.2 Record the extensions in the spring 2

Elongation
Elongation
Obs Mas Mas Weight (Force) in First
in first spring
. s sm 𝑭𝒈 = 𝒎𝒈 Spring
X1
No. (g) (kg) N X1
(mm)
(m)
1 50 0.05kg 5mm 0.05m

2 60 0.06kg 6mm 0.06m

3 70 0.07kg 7mm 0.07m

4 80 0.08kg 8mm 0.08m

5 90 0.09kg 9mm 0.09m

6 100 0.1kg 10mm 0.1m

7 110 0.11kg 11mm 0.11m

8 120 0.12kg 12mm 0.12m

9 130 0.13kg 13mm 0.13m

10 140 0.14kg 14mm 0.14m

PHYS101 Exp # 8 Spring Stiffness Constant

Graph between the force (𝑭𝒈) and the elongation (𝑿)

Use the values obtained in Table 8.1 to plot a graph between the force 𝑭𝒈 and the elongation of
spring 1 (𝑋1). Then use the values obtained in Table 8.2 to plot another graph between the forces
𝑭𝒈 and the elongation of spring 2 (𝑋2) on the same graph paper.
Graph 8.1: Plot graph between weight and
elongations
PHYS101 Exp # 8 Spring Stiffness Constant

Graph 8.2: Plot graph between weight and

elongations
PHYS101 Exp # 8 Spring Stiffness Constant

Calculation:
Determine the proportionality factor (k) from the slopes of the two curves
obtained in Graph 5.1. (Don't forget to use the correct units!)

∆Fg
1. k 1= =Slope 1 =¿ ¿
∆ x1

∆Fg
2. k 2= =Slope 2 =¿ ¿
∆ x2

Result:
Spring constant for the
given helical springs

1. 𝑘1 =
2. 𝑘2 =
Questions
1. Which of the two springs has the larger spring constant? What is the effect of this
larger spring constant?
The second one. It effects the elongation

2. When a box of unknown mass is placed into the trunk of a car, both rear shocks
are compressed a distance of 7.0cm. If we assume the two rear shocks are made
from springs, each with a spring constant value of k = 35000 N/m, what is the
mass of the box? (Assume g = 9.80 m/s2).
M = fg\a

3. Maximum limit up to which stress is applied on body without deformation is called

a. limit
b. elastic limit
c. strain
d. none of above
PHYS101 Exp # 8 Spring Stiffness Constant