Purpose
Use a model to compare the relationship of springs and the distance that they are displaced by different weights
Use the model to calculate the force constant of the spring
Use the model to determine an equation for the potential energy of the spring
Use the model to calculate the force constant of the spring
Use the model to determine an equation for the potential energy of the spring
Materials
Spring
masses
Triple beam balance
Meter stick
Ring stand and mounting clamp for spring
masses
Triple beam balance
Meter stick
Ring stand and mounting clamp for spring
Procedure
The first part of the lab is to pick a spring that has an appropriate spring constant that will allow for 5 different hights in order to obtain data points by using the model given
Next a ring stand will be used to hang the spring and a metter stick will be attached in order to measure the displacement of the spring
Then five different masses will be chosen to hang from the spring
These were the five different masses that were chosen: 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 grams
The displacement of the spring was measured for each weight that was hung
The Force was found using F = mg = m(9.81)
Next a ring stand will be used to hang the spring and a metter stick will be attached in order to measure the displacement of the spring
Then five different masses will be chosen to hang from the spring
These were the five different masses that were chosen: 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 grams
The displacement of the spring was measured for each weight that was hung
The Force was found using F = mg = m(9.81)
Analysis
the potential energy in the spring with respect to the displacement can be found by using the anti derivative of the formula dU/dx=kx which would be U= (1/2)*kx^2
The spring constant is the increase in force with respect to x, therefore the slope of the line F(x) or dF/dx, was measured to be 28.481.
We also took into consideration, the weight of the spring, which caused our graph to show the y-intercept was not being at y=0
The spring constant is the increase in force with respect to x, therefore the slope of the line F(x) or dF/dx, was measured to be 28.481.
We also took into consideration, the weight of the spring, which caused our graph to show the y-intercept was not being at y=0
Conclusion
The relationship between the spring force and the displacement of the spring was solved for F(x) = -kx
The force constant of the spring was calcucated to be k = 28.481
the first equation of our model was used to solve for the anti derivative of F(x)=-kx, which is the equation for potential energy. U = (1/2)*kx²
The force constant of the spring was calcucated to be k = 28.481
the first equation of our model was used to solve for the anti derivative of F(x)=-kx, which is the equation for potential energy. U = (1/2)*kx²