Force, extension and springs

Task 1

When you apply a force on a spring it extends.

extension How much an object decreases in size.

force How much an object increases in size.

compression How stretchy (or not stretchy) a spring is.

An interaction on an object, like a push or

spring constant
pull, measured in newtons.

The furthest a material can be stretched

elastic limit
without being permanently damaged.

Task 2
What are the extensions of the following springs?

Difference in length = Difference in length = Difference in length = Difference in length =

...................... cm ...................... cm ...................... cm ...................... cm

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 Force, extension and springs
Task 3
Can you plot the points on the graph?

Force (N) Extension (cm)

1 2

2 4

3 6

4 8

5 10

Can you draw a line of best fit?

Task 4

We can say that force is proportional to extension.

The equation that links these is:

𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 = 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 × 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

(𝐹 = 𝑘 𝑒)

Can you work out what force would cause these springs to stretch?

1 Spring constant = 5 N/cm, extension = 3 cm force =

2 Spring constant = 10 N/cm, extension = 2.5 cm
3 Spring constant = 25 N/cm, extension = 4 cm
4 Spring constant = 12 N/m, extension = 0.5 m
.............................. N
force =
.............................. N
force =
.............................. N
force =
.............................. N

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 Force, extension and springs
The equation can be rearranged to find the extension:

𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 = 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 ÷ 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭

Can you work out what extension these springs would stretch by?

5 Force = 10 N, spring constant = 5 N/cm extension =

6 Force = 20 N, spring constant = 4 N/cm
7 Force = 100 N, spring constant = 25 N/m
8 Force = 77 N, spring constant = 11N/cm
............................. cm
extension =
............................. cm
extension =
............................. m
extension =
............................. cm

It can be rearranged again to find the spring constant:

spring constant = force ÷ extension

Can you work out the spring constant?

9 Force = 80 N, extension = 4 cm spring constant =

............................... N/cm
10 Force = 6 N, extension = 10 cm spring constant =
............................... N/cm

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 Force, extension and springs
Answers

Task 1

How much an object decreases in

extension
size.

How much an object increases in

force
size.

How stretchy (or not stretchy) a

compression
spring is.

An interaction on an object, like a

spring constant
push or pull, measured in newtons.

The furthest a material can be

elastic limit stretched without being permanently
damaged.

Task 2

Difference in length = Difference in length = Difference in length = Difference in length =

2 cm 4 cm 5.5 cm 3.5 cm

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 Force, extension and springs

Task 3

Task 4

1. 15 N
2. 25 N
3. 100 N
4. 6 N
5. 2 cm
6. 5 cm
7. 4 m
8. 7 cm
9. 20 N/cm
10. 0.6 N/cm

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