Department of Physics, Systems Engineering and Signal Theory

Polytechnic University College/ University of Alicante

EPS Degree in FUNDAMENTALS of ARCHITECTURE

APPLIED PHYSICS 1. LABORATORY PRACTISES
Course 2019/20

DETERMINING THE ELASTIC CONSTANT OF A SPRING (STATIC METHOD). HOOKE'S

LAW.

1.- Purpose.

The primary purpose of this practise is to study Hooke's law by studying the
behaviour of a mass on a spring using the static method. Your goal will be to
determine the elastic constant of a spring.

2.- Material.

Support for the spring. Support with a stick metre. Two springs and an elastic band.
Support for the masses. Masses of 10 and 50 grams.

3.- Theory.

The shape of a body will distort when a force is applied to it. Bodies which are
elastic distort by compression or tension, and return to their original, or
equilibrium, position when distorting force is removed (unless the distorting force
exceeds the elastic limit of the material). Hooke's law states that if the distortion of
an elastic body is no too large, the force tending to restore the body equilibrium is
proportional to the displacement of the body from equilibrium stated
mathematically (1):
F = - k x
where F is a restoring force (i.e. the weight m·g of the mass m i), k is a constant of
proportionality (called elastic constant of the spring) and x = L - L0 is the distance
the object has been displaced from its equilibrium position.

4.- Procedure.

4.1 Introduction.
In this lab, you will observe a mass on a spring and, from this, determine the value
of k for that spring. There are two straight-forward ways for doing this. The first
method is referred to as the “static method”, which utilizes Hooke's law, given in
Department of Physics, Systems Engineering and Signal Theory
Polytechnic University College/ University of Alicante

EPS Degree in FUNDAMENTALS of ARCHITECTURE

APPLIED PHYSICS 1. LABORATORY PRACTISES
Course 2019/20

DETERMINING THE ELASTIC CONSTANT OF A SPRING (STATIC METHOD). HOOKE'S

LAW.

Equation (1). The second method, the “dynamic method”, makes use of the fact
that the system exhibits simple harmonic motion. Thus, you are able to perform
two independent experiments to extract a property of spring: its spring constant.
The idea is to check the relationship between masses and displacements of the
spring plotting our measurements in a graph, i.e. by the static method.
If we compare Hooke's law and the general equation for a
straight line, y = p·x + q, we see that relationship between F
and displacement x is a straight line. Using this comparison
we can show that the slope and the y-intercept should be
expressed in terms of k and L0.

4.2 Taking measurements.

Suppose we hang a mass m on the spring and a new equilibrium position is
established, as seen in Figure. According to Newton's
2nd law the magnitude of the restoring force is equal
to the magnitude of the weight of the hanging mass
W = m·g. Thus, W = - F. Therefore, Equation (1) can
be written as: W = k·x or mi·g = k·x.
Begin by measuring the position of the spring. This is
your equilibrium position. Then we add 10 g (or 50 g
depending on the spring you will use) mass pan from
the spring and measure the position of the mass pan.
Then, remove the masses in reverse order, one at a time, again noting the
corresponding displacement. This will effectively give you two trials, which can be
averaged (you may wish to comment on any trends or differences you see between
the trials).
Do this experimental procedure with one of the two springs and with the
elastic band.
Department of Physics, Systems Engineering and Signal Theory
Polytechnic University College/ University of Alicante

EPS Degree in FUNDAMENTALS of ARCHITECTURE

APPLIED PHYSICS 1. LABORATORY PRACTISES
Course 2019/20

DETERMINING THE ELASTIC CONSTANT OF A SPRING (STATIC METHOD). HOOKE'S

LAW.

NOTE: Displacements are to be calculated relative to the equilibrium position (for

instance, if the average equilibrium position is 20 cm, you would subtract 20 cm
from all of your position measurements. It will be convenient to start with a
minimum mass we can observe displacement clearly.

5.- Results.

Questions:
1.- For each elastic element you used, do a table with experimental value of
masses, its weights (forces) and the extensions produced in the spring and its
average value. Include also all the absolute errors of these measures.
Assume as gravity acceleration this value g = 9,81  0,01 m s-2. Assume also
we know masses wit ha precision of 2%.
2.- Do a graph of the applied forces (weights, X axis) and the extensions
produced (lengths/displacements, Y axis). Draw also the error bars on the
graph.
3.- For each elastic element you used, draw a straight line that better describes
our experimental data. Identify the physical meaning of the slope and write
the numerical value, absolute error and units correctly.
4.- Using the result you obtained in question 3, for both spring and elastic band,
determine the period of oscillation T and its absolute error if we hang a mass
of 80  1 g and by displacing it from equilibrium the system do oscillations.
Use the following expression: