Spring constant

Department of physics
SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
 A block attached to a spring moving on a
frictionless surface.
 Simplest Example of Simple Harmonic Motion

S.
H.
M
whenever its acceleration is proportional to its
position and is oppositely directed to the
displacement from equilibrium 2
Aim:
To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension.
Apparatus:
• A spring
• A rigid support
• Weight hanger
• 50g slotted weights
• A vertical wooden scale
• A fine pointer
Theory:

Hooke’s Law is the statement that the restoring force acting on an object is proportional to the negative of the

displacement (deformation) of the object.

In symbols,

F∝x

F=−kx

Here, F is the restoring force provided by the object

x is the displacement of the object

k is the constant of proportionality.

The negative sign (-) indicates that the restoring force is opposite in direction to the displacement.

The ratio of the change in applied force (ΔF) and the change in the resulting displacement (Δx) is called the spring constant
(k). If the displacement is more than the elastic limit, the spring will exhibit “plastic behavior”, where the

atomic bonds in the material of the spring get broken or rearranged and spring does not return to its original state.
Description:
When a material is stretched or compressed, the restoring force that tends to return the material to its original
position is proportional to the amount of the displacement but points in a direction opposite to the stretch or
compression. This is known as Hooke's Law.
n this experiment we can test the validity of Hooke’s law on a simple object like helical spring

The helical spring is the commonly used as a mechanical spring.

Helical spring is made by wrapping a wire in the form of a coil.
It can be designed to carry the loads.
Helical spring is suspended vertically from a rigid support.
The pointer is attached horizontally to the free end of spring.
A meter scale is kept vertically in such away that the tip of the pointer is over the
divisions of the scale; but does not touch the scale.
• 
Procedure:
 A dead weight, gm is suspended by the weight hanger to keep the spring vertical. The reading of the pointer on
the meter scale is noted
 Now, gently add a suitable load of 50 g slotted weights to the hanger and the reading of the pointer is noted.
 The weights are added one by one till the maximum load is reached. In each case, the reading of the pointer is
noted.

The weights are then removed one by one and the reading of the pointer is noted in each case of unloading.

 The average of the readings for each load during loading and unloading is calculated in each case. Let
...etc.., be the average readings of the pointer for the loads , (+50), (+100), (+150)… etc.,

 From this, extension, x (in m) for the loads (w0+50), (w0+100), (w0+150) etc. , are calculated as (
(),( - respectively.

A graph is drawn with load M along Y- axis and extension x along the X-axis.

Take the slope value from the graph to calculate spring constant (K).
Increasing load:

S.NO Mass Extension F = mg (N)

m (gm) x (cm)
1 50 2.1 490

2 100 5.4 980

3 150 10.1 1470

4 200 15.3 1960

5 250 20.5 2450

6 300 25.7 2940

7 350 30.9 3430

Decreasing load:

S.NO Mass Extension F = mg (N)

m (gm) X (cm)

1 350 30.9 3430

2 300 25.7 2940

3 250 20.5 2450

4 200 15.3 1960

5 150 10.1 1470

6 100 5.4 980

7 50 2.1 490
(i)Increasing load: (ii)Decreasing load:
Calculation:
• 
We know Hooke's law F = k x → k = ………(a)
From Newton's second law F = m g………..(b)

from (a) and (b)

k= → k=g → k= → k = …………(c)

say = = = × 10 = slope × 10

 For increasing load:

slope = 0.089 → = 0.089×10 = 0.89

from equation (c) k = = 11 () or (kg/)

•  For decreasing load:

slope = 0.09 → = 0.09 × 10 = 0.9
from equation (c) k = = 10.8 () or (kg/)

Result:
 Force constant of a helical spring for (i) Increasing load is k = 11 (N/m)
(ii)Decreasing load is k = 10.8 (N/m)
•Viva
  questions:
1. Define a rigid body
 A body is said to be a rigid body, if it suffers absolutely no change in its form (length, volume or shape) under the
action of forces applied on it.
2.Define an accelerating force?
 An unbalanced force which will produce acceleration in a body, is called an accelerating force.
3. Define a deforming force?
 A balanced force producing deformation in a body, is called a deforming force.
4. Define elasticity?
 The property of a deformed body, by virtue of which it tends to regain its original form, when the deforming forces
have been withdrawn, is called elasticity. Bodies having this property, are called elastic bodies.
5. Define a stress?
 The restoring force per unit area exerted by the molecules of a deformed body, from within the body, is called
stress.
stress =
8. Define elastic limit?
 The maximum stress up to which a body remains elastic, is called elastic limit.
9.State Hooke’s law?
 Hooke’s law states, “within elastic limit, the extension of an elastic body is directly proportional to the tension
(stretching force)”.
F=–kx
Here k = spring constant
Negative sign shows the direction of restoring force toward the mean position.

10. Define coefficient (or modulus) of elasticity?

 The constant ratio of stress and strain is called coefficient or modulus of elasticity of the material of the body.