Veronica Gonzalez Carolyn Sullivan, Emily Caples February 9, 2011 Period 2

Spring Lab!
Purpose The purpose of this experiment is to discover how the length of a spring is related to the force exerted. In this experiment, the group measured the varying length of the spring as different masses were added to it. The independent variable was the mass, which was eventually converted to weight, the force. The dependent variable was the length of the spring, which changed based on the different forces. Our hypothesis was that force would be proportional to the length of the spring. The longer the spring, the more potential energy is stored. Apparatus

Procedure

We chose a spring and used fourteen different masses in order to complete our data. We hung the spring from a stand, so the height of the spring would be consistent. We placed different masses on the end of the spring, a new measurement each time, and we used a meter stick to find the new length of it. We recorded the length. Afterwards, we converted the measurements, which were in centimeters, to meters, and we converted the masses to kilograms and then to

Weight. We imputed this data onto LoggerPro. Data Length (meters) 0.143 0.209 0.286 0.523 0.362 0.171 0.249 0.405 0.328 0.557 0.150 0.788 0.752 0.146 0.000 0.980 1.960 4.900 2.940 0.490 1.470 3.430 2.450 5.390 0.196 8.330 7.840 0.098 ALSO SEE GRAPH ATTACHED!!!!! Evaluation Of Data Once plotted, the graph and data showed that force, in Newtons, is directly proportional to length, in meters. The equation for our line was y= 12.68 N/m (Length) + 0.13 N. The under ten percent rule was 1.6%, so our y-intercept could be neglected. The correlation of our graph was 0.9999, so our data was measured accurately. Force (Newtons)

Veronica Gonzalez February 10, 2011

Honors Physics Period 2

Spring Lab!
Conclusion In conclusion, we found that force (weight in Newtons) has a relationship to length (meters), which is directly proportional. Our hypothesis was partially correct, except for the fact of being directly proportional. I learned that because the spring was being stretched longer and longer each time more mass was added, there was more potential energy being stored. The type of energy is elastic potential energy, which is the result of stretching an elastic object. It is equal to the work that is done. This depends on the spring constant and the distance that the object is stretched. In the experiment, we kept many things constant including the number of coils we hung the weights from, the height of the top of the spring, the actual spring itself, the wind factor, and the initial length, which was 0.143 meters. As stated above, our equation for the experiment was y= 12.68 N/m (Length) + 0.13 N. This meant that in order for our spring to be stretched a meter, 12.68 N needs to be added to the end of it. All in all, when you increase the force, the change in length is directly proportional! I really enjoyed this experiment, and I learned a lot about forces and energy from it!