CHAPTER 1: FORCE AND MOTION II

( PART IV )

ELASTICITY

• Elasticity is the property of material that enables an object to return to its

original shape and size after the force applied on it is removed.

• A spring will extend when a pulling force is applied on it.

• Consider a mass is hung at one end of a spring while the other end is fixed as
shown in Figure 1.

Note:

❖ x = l - lo
❖ F=W
= mg

F
Figure 1

• It is found that when a vertical force, F is applied on the mass, the spring will
undergo extension, x.

• As the magnitude of the force increases, the extension also increases, and this
relationship is stated by a law called Hooke’s law:

Hooke’s law states that the extension of a spring is directly proportional to the
force applied on the spring provided the elastic limit of the spring is not
exceeded:
x  F
or
F x
or
F = kx
where k is a constant called spring constant or force constant.
• The value of k can be determined by the above equation:
k = F ( SI unit: N m-1 )
x

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• The relationship between F and x can be represented by graph of F against x
( Figure 2 ).
F

Fmax . X
Elastic limit

x
O
Figure 2

• As can be seen from the graphs, it will be a straight line until a certain limit,
that is the elastic limit ( point X ).
• This shows that most materials are elastic up to a certain limit which is the elastic
limit.
• Hence, Hooke’s law is only obeyed along the straight line, OX.
• The elastic limit corresponds to the maximum applied force, Fmax whereby the
material will return to its original length once the applied force is removed.
• After this maximum force, it will NOT return to its original length.

EXPLANATION FOR ELASTICITY

• The property of elasticity is caused by the existence of two forces between

molecules or atoms in the solid material:

❖ Force of attraction
❖ Force of repulsion

• When a stretching force is applied to the solid, force of attraction between the
molecules is greater than repulsive force hence pulls the molecules back to
their equilibrium positions.
• When a compressive force is applied to the solid, force of repulsion between
the molecules is greater than attractive force, hence pushes the molecules back
to their equilibrium positions.
• In the absence of an applied external force on the solid, the force of attraction is
balanced by the force of repulsion, hence, the resultant force is zero.

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DETERMINATION OF SPRING CONSTANT FROM GRAPH

• The spring constant, k can be determined from the graph of F against x .

• Referring to region where Hooke’s law is obeyed ( straight line ), gradient of the
graph represents k ( Figure 3a ).
F against x x against F
F x

Gradient, m = k Gradient, m = 1
k

x F

(a) ( b)

Figure 3

• The spring constant, k can also be determined from the graph of x against F
whereby gradient represents 1/k ( Figure 3b ).

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE ELASTICITY OF A MATERIAL

• The elasticity of a material depends on the value of the spring constant, k,

whereby k represents the stiffness of a material.
• A spring which is stiffer ( less elastic ) has a higher value of k and vice versa.
• The value of k is a characteristics of the material of the spring whereby
different springs have different spring constants, k ( Figure 4 ).
F

x
Figure 4

Comparing material, A and B:

kB > kA since mB > mA

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• The stiffness or elasticity of a material depends on several factors:

❖ Length of spring:
If length increases, stiffness decreases ( k decreases ), hence becomes
more elastic.
❖ Diameter of spring coil:
If diameter of coil increases, stiffness decreases ( k decreases ), hence
becomes more elastic.
❖ Diameter of spring wire ( Thickness ):

If diameter of wire increases, stiffness increases ( k increases ), hence

becomes less elastic.
❖ Material of spring:
Different materials of springs will yield different stiffness. For example,
a steel spring is much stiffer than a copper spring ( ksteel > kcopper ).
❖ Arrangement of several springs ( identical ):
In a system that involves two or more identical springs, the springs can
be arranged in two ways:
➢ Series
➢ Parallel

Series arrangement:
➢ Arrangement in series will decrease the stiffness ( k decreases ),
hence becomes more elastic ( Figure 5 ).

k1
k2 < k1
k2
F

F
Figure 5

➢ Each spring will experience the same applied force, F or same

mass, m.
➢ Therefore, extension of each spring will be the same.

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Example:

• Consider a single spring ( Figure 6a ).

• When an applied force, F is exerted on the spring, it undergoes an
extension, x.

x x

F
(a) (b)

Figure 6

• Consider two identical springs arranged in series ( Figure 6b )

• When the same force, F is applied on the system of springs, each
spring experience the same applied force, F.
• Therefore, each spring will undergo the same extension, x.
• Hence, total extension for the system of springs arranged in series
is 2x:
⅀extension = x + x = 2x

Parallel arrangement:
➢ Arrangement in parallel will increase the stiffness (k increases ),
hence becomes less elastic ( Figure 7 ).

k1 k2 k2 > k1

F
F
Figure 7

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➢ In parallel arrangement, the applied force, F or mass, m is
shared equally among the springs, that is each spring will
experience applied force or mass equals to F/n or m/n
where n = number of spring.

➢ Therefore, extension of each spring will also be x/n.

Example:

• Consider a single spring ( Figure 8a ).

• When an applied force, F is exerted on the spring, it undergoes an
extension, x.

(a) x x
2
F
F

(a) (b)

Figure 8

• Consider two identical springs arranged in parallel ( Figure 8b ).

• When the same force, F is applied on the system of springs, the
force applied is divided equally among the springs, that is each
spring experience the same applied force of F/2 where n = 2.
• Therefore, each spring will undergo the same extension, that is:

Extension = x
2

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 • Table below shows a summary of the five factors that affect the value of the
spring constant.

FACTOR CHANGE IN EFFECT ON THE VALUE OF

FACTOR THE SPRING CONSTANT

Material of the spring Different material Changes according to the type of

material
Length of spring Shorter Higher
Longer Lower
Diameter of spring coil Smaller diameter Higher
Larger diameter Lower
Thickness of spring wire Smaller diameter wire Lower
Larger diameter wire Higher
Arrangement of several Series Lower
identical springs
Parallel Higher

Exampe 1:

The original length of a spring is 5 cm. With a load of mass 20 g, the length of the spring
is extended to 7 cm. Determine
(a) the extension of the spring with a load 40 g
(b) the length of the spring with a load 60 g.
(c) the load required to extend the spring to 20 cm.
______________________________________________________________________________

Example 2:
(a) A spring with original length 50 mm extends by 6 mm when stretched by a force
of 12 N. Calculate the spring constant of the spring.
(b) Figure shows three arrangements of springs consisting of springs identical to the
one mentioned in (a).

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 For each arrangement, determine:
(i) the tension in each spring
(ii) the extension of each spring
(iii) the total extension of the system of springs
(iv) the total length of the arrangement of springs
________________________________________________________________________

Example 3:

Spring A extends by 2 cm when it is hung with a 10 g weight. Spring B extends by

4 cm when it is hung with a 10 g weight. Find the total stretch in each of the spring
systems shown in the following figure.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Example 4:

Figure shows an arrangement consisting of three identical springs P, Q and R.

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The spring constant is 4 N cm–1. The arrangement is compressed by an 8 N force.
Determine:

(a) the force experienced by each spring

(b) the compression of each spring
(c) the compression of the system of springs
________________________________________________________________________

ELASTIC POTENTIAL ENERGY ( EP )

• To stretch a spring, work must be done to overcome the restoring force in the
spring ( forces between atoms of the material ).

• The work done is then converted to energy stored in the spring called elastic
potential energy, EP.

• The work done or elastic potential energy can be determined according to the
equation below:

EP = ½ Fx
or
EP = ½ kx2

• The work done or elastic potential energy can also be determined from the
F versus x graph, that is from the area under the graph as shown in Figure 9:

Area under the graph = EP

Figure 9

Example 5:

(a) The original length of a spring is 12 cm. With a load of 20 g , the length of the
spring is extended to 15 cm. What is the elastic potential energy stored in the
spring?
________________________________________________________________________

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(b) A spring is stretched by a force of 200 N so that the extension of the spring is
5 cm. Calculate
(i) the force constant
(ii) the elastic potential energy
________________________________________________________________________

Example 6:
Figure shows a graph of force, F against extension, x for a spring.

(a) Calculate the spring constant.

(b) What is the potential energy stored when the spring is extended by 0.4 m ?
______________________________________________________________________________________

Example 7:

Figure shows the graph of force against extension for steel spring M and steel spring N.

(a) Calculate the spring constant for steel spring M.

(b) What is the elastic potential energy stored in steel spring N when it is stretched to
an extension of 6 cm?
(c) Compare and contrast steel spring M with steel spring N.
________________________________________________________________________

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 EXERCISE
1. Property of elasticity is caused by the existence of
A the force of repulsion between molecules
B the force of attraction between molecules
C the force of repulsion and attraction between molecules

2. The relationship between stretching force, F, with the extension ,x , of a spring is

given by the equation:
F = kx
where k is the spring constant.
What is the S.I unit of k ?
A N m-1 B N m-2
C kg m-1 D kg m-2

3. The spring constant ,k increases when

A the spring length increases
B the diameter of the sprig increases
C the diameter of the spring wire increases

4. The figure shows a force- extension graph for a spring.

Which section of the graph Hooke’s law is obeyed?

A AO B AB
C At point B D After point B

5. A spring extends by 4 cm when it hung with a load of 8 N. Find the weight of a

load when hung from the same spring, produces an extension of 5 cm.

A 9N B 10 N
C 12 N D 14 N

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6. The figure shows a load M supported by the arrangements of springs, P, Q and R.
All the springs are identical.

P Q R

Which comparison is correct about the extension of P,Q and R?

A P<Q<R B Q< R< P

C R< Q < P D Q< P< R

7. The figure shows two springs P and Q having and original length 5 cm each are
connected in series to a 400 g weight .

[ Spring P extends 2 cm when it is hung with a 200 g .

Spring Q extends 3 cm when it is hung with a 100 g. ]

What is the length of AB?

A 21 cm B 23 cm
C 24 cm D 26 cm

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8. Figure(a) shows a spring P extends by 5 cm when it hung with a 0.5 kg weight.
Figure (b) shows four springs P are arranged in a system and is hung with a
1.0 kg load.

What is the total extension of the spring system?

A 5.0 cm B 10.0 cm
C 15.0 cm D 20.0 cm

9. A spring is compressed with a force of 300 N . If the compression of the spring is

0.05 m, what is the potential energy stored in the spring?

A 7.5 J B 15.0 J
C 3 000 J D 6000 J

10. Figure shows the graph of force, F against extension, x for a spring.

(a) State Hooke’s law.

(b) Does the spring obey Hooke’s law?
(c) Calculate the spring constant.
(d) What is the elastic potential energy in the spring when stretched to an
extension of 0.04 m?

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11. (a) A spring stores elastic potential energy of 18 J when the extension of the
spring is 4.0 cm. What is the force required to stretch the spring to an
extension of 3.0 cm?

(b) Figure shows the graph of F against x for a spring. The shaded area in the
graph has a value of 0.4 J.

(i) What is the force that produces the extension of 5 cm in the

spring?
(ii) Calculate the spring constant.

12. Figure shows a graph of extension , x against force ,F for two springs A and B.
The spring A and B having an original length of 10 cm each.

(a) Based on the graph , state the relationship between the extension, x and
the force, F.
(b) State the law involved.
(c) What is the physical quantity represented by the gradient of the graph?
(d) Which of the spring is the most suitable to measure the big force. Explain.
(e) State two factors why the extension of the spring A is different from the
extension of the spring B?
(f) Create an arrangement of the spring A and B so that the extension of the
spring system is 10 cm when a load of 10 N is hung.

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13. Diagram shows a load hung on a spring.

(a) The mass of the load can be determined by using the formula F= kx, where
F is force, k is spring constant and x is extension of spring.

(i) What is meant by spring constant?

(ii) Name the physics law related to the above formula.
(iii) The mass of the load is 1.0 kg. Calculate the spring constant of
spring P when the extension of the spring is 2 cm.
(iv) Calculate the elastic potential energy.

(b) Spring P breaks when it is used to hang a heavy load. Suggest

modification that can be made to hang the heavy load through these
aspects:

Suggestion Reason
Stiffness of the spring:

Thickness of the wire:

Type of material:

(c) Another identical spring, Q is used to hang the heavy load. Suggest the
arrangement of these springs to hang the heavy load without breaking the
springs.

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ARHO/F5/C1/F&MII/PIV/2024

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