Spring LAB

NAME: _____________________
Hookes Law & Potential energy

Introduction
In this lab you will investigate the force and stretch in a variety of springs as well as investigate energy.

Procedure
Part 1 Collecting data to determine the spring constant (see included table within lab)

DO NOT USE THE 1 kg mass, you will break the springs and rubber bands
For each spring and rubber band provided, (data table attached)
-

Hang the spring on a clamp and measure the initial length of the spring. (note: for the rubber band you will

have to put a small insignificant amount of weight on it to get the relaxed length, you can ignore this tiny
amount of weight in the analysis)

Attach different masses to the spring and measure the final length of the stretched spring. Each trial
should add at least 100 g of mass (for rubber band: 200g additions will most likely be needed). The
amount of mass added to the spring should be enough so that the stretch is noticeably measurable and
each trial is noticeably different.
Calculate the change in length for each mass.
Use at least 5 different masses for a given spring and repeat the process for each spring or elastic band
that is provided. You DO NOT, and probably SHOULD NOT use the same 5 masses for each spring. Make
a separate table of information for each spring.

P1

Part 2 Energy Investigation

-

Choose one of the springs used in Part 1 and

select a mass that provided a noticeable stretch
to the spring but not so drastic that it will not be
able to be stretched further
Record the mass you will use and describe
which spring you chose to use
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

We will use the provided rings to setup the

apparatus show in the diagram, follow the steps
below:

Attach the mass to the spring.

Hold the mass so that the spring does not

stretch but will be at its relaxed length.

Move the top ring so that it will mark the

location of the bottom of the mass while you are
holding it at its relaxed position

READ THE WHOLE STEP BEFORE DOING IT

- DROP the mass from the relaxed length so that
it falls down and stretches the spring. Watch it
as it falls and make a note of where it
momentarily stops at the lowest position before
it bounces back up. Slide the lower ring up and
down on the stand to mark this lowest position.
REPEAT this drop a series of times until you
have accurately marked the lowest position of
the mass. THE LOWER RING SHOULD BE AT A
LOCATION BELOW THE MASS WHEN IT HAS
FINISHED BOUNCING.
-

Measure the length between the rings to get a value for the maximum stretch (change in length) of the
spring and record that value
________________________________

P2

Analysis
Part 1
1.) For one of your springs and masses, draw a FBD of the spring at its relaxed length and next to it draw a
second FBD when the mass was attached to the spring. Label the lengths and the change in length as well as
the forces acting when the mass is attached to the spring

P3

2.) Collect your data in the tables below and determine the weight ( = spring force)
Rubber Band
Mass
(kg)

FSP = FG
(N)

Initial L (xo)
(m)

Final L (x)
(m)

x
(m)

Spring 1 Describe Spring Here __________________________

Mass
(kg)

FSP = FG
(N)

Initial L (xo)
(m)

Final L (x)
(m)

x
(m)

Spring 2 Describe Spring Here __________________________

Mass
(kg)

FSP = FG
(N)

Initial L (xo)
(m)

Final L (x)
(m)

x
(m)

Spring 3 Describe Spring Here __________________________

Mass
(kg)

FSP = FG
(N)

Initial L (xo)
(m)

Final L (x)
(m)

x
(m)

P4

3.) Make a separate XY scatter Graph of Force vs. Stretch for each spring and/or rubber band and be sure title
each one with the type of object used as well as the variables force and stretch (Note: you should remember how
to tell which one is the y value based on the vs terminology, look it up if you forgot). MAKE A SEPARATE
GRAPH FOR EACH SPRING on its own page. Be sure to put a best fit line or curve on the graph. NOTE: if
the best fit is a curve, which it probably will be for some of them, put this best fit curve in, and then after you
print the graph, draw a linear straight line to represent a representation of the average slope of the graph if the
relationship were linear. This is very important and is what you will use to find the spring constant for a graph
that is naturally curved and not linear. Some of your data might be naturally linear and not have this problem.
Make the graph sized at least a half of a piece of paper. You can copy and paste the graph from
excel into word in order to do this.
4.) Below each graph, pick appropriate points and find the slope of the graph to determine the spring constant.
Be sure to indicate which points you are using and circle them on your graph as well. (Note: DO NOT PICK
POINTS from the graph and plug into F=kx, and dont average individual k values either. Rather
you should be finding the slope to get the spring constant).
5.) Below each graph, state whether or not the spring constant is actually constant for the spring or shows
variation based on the stretch and explain how you make this conclusion.
6.) Use each graph to determine the amount of work that would be done by the spring as mass was added. Use
the lowest amount of attached mass as the starting point and determine the work done as the spring was
stretched from this position to the final largest stretch position recorded. Clearly show your answers below each
graph and explain how you found the work in each graph.

Part 2 - The diagram below represents the motion of the spring in Part 2 of the lab. It started at rest at
position A and then was dropped until it stretched and reached position B where it momentarily stopped again.
(starting position)
\
/
\
A
hA

\
/
\
/
\

For this part of the analysis, we are going to assume that when
the spring reached position B, the max stretch, it was at a height
of zero h = 0
B (Max stretch)

(a) What kind of PE would the system posses at point A, calculate it

(b) What kind of PE would the system posses of point B, calculate it

(c) How should the results to parts (a) and (b) compare to each other. Explain in detail why they should be this
way and comment on how your results compare to what you would expect.

P5