NAME: Jessica Harragin

DATE: 17/02/22
LAB #: 13
QUESTION:
Ricardo is asked to inves gate how the total length of a spring affects its spring constant. Plan and design
an experiment to carry out this inves ga on

HYPOTHESIS: the spring constant increases as the length of spring increases

AIM: To determine if the spring constant increases as the length of spring increases
APPARATUS: spring, hook, tape measure, mass, mass hanger, magnet
DIAGRAM OF APPARATUS:
METHOD:
1. The apparatus was set up as shown.
2. The spring was suspended by the hook
3. The mass hanger was hooked onto the spring.
4. The length of the spring was measured when the mass hanger stopped oscillating.
5. 100g was added and step 4 was repeated until 6 sets of values of mass were achieved.
6. The mass hanger was removed and a spring was added before replacing the masshanger
7. Steps 2-5 were repeated for 8 lengths of spring

VARIABLES:
Responding variable: spring constant
Manipulated variable: total length of spring

RESULTS:

EXPECTED RESULTS:
It is expected that the spring constant increases as the length of the spring increases
TREATMENT OF RESULTS:
Plot a graph of F/N vs. e/cm and ind its gradient
DISCUSSION:
1. Is the gradient of the graph positive or negative
2. Does the spring constant increase or decrease as the length of the spring increases?

ASSUMPTIONS:
It is assumed that the mass recorded on the weights are the actual mass of the weights
LIMITATIONS:
Since springs of different lengths were not available sprigs were connected to increase length and
each connected spring did not extend evenly
PRECAUTIONS:

1. All measurements of length were recorded at eye level to avoid random errors in readings of
length.
2. All readings were taken after the mass hanger had completely stopped oscillating,
preventing random errors in readings of length.
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. The experimenter had shaky hands causing random errors in readings of length
2. The tape measure may have been moved slightly causing random errors in readings of
length

CONCLUSION: the spring constant increases/does not increase as the length of the spring increases