1R10.10 - Hooke's Law
- Description
This demonstration shows Hooke’s law, in this case for the extension of a spring. Knowing that the force applied to the spring is directly proportional to the extension caused by that force, we can find a value for the constant of proportionality that relates these quantities.
- Equipment
- Retort stand with 3 connectors, a bar and 2 clamps
- Box of springs with various spring constants
- Box of masses with adaptor hook
- Ruler
- How to assemble and operate
- 1. Use one connector to fix the bar horizontally near the top of the stand
- 2. Connect 2 clamps to this bar with the other connectors
- 3. Hang one of the springs from one of the clamps
- 4. Use another clamp to hold the ruler
- 5. Select the smallest mass and attach to other end of the spring, recording where the end of the mass is on the ruler before releasing the mass
- 6. Release the mass and measure the extension caused by that mass
- 7. Add another mass, and again record the extension
- 8. Repeat with more masses, and use the mass vs extension relationship to find the spring constant. This entire procedure can be repeated for other springs of different spring constants.
