Physics 181 - Summer 2013 - Experiment #6 1

Experiment #6, Hooke's Law

1 Purpose
To experimentally determine the spring constant, using Hooke’s law and the balancing forces of W =
mg = kR when a stretched spring is at equilibrium with attached masses. A secondary, but important
goal is to learn about the criteria for dropping non-linear data from a data set during experimental
analysis. The spring constant k and R1 determined this week will be used in experiment 7 studying
centripetal force, and Newton’s Second Law F = ma. This experiment will develop the linear
expression W = k(R – R1) which will be used in experiment 7 to find centripetal force Fc = k(R – R1).

2 Introduction
A body at rest has no net force acting on it. We can use this principal to measure an unknown force
by balancing it with a known one. In this case we will use the force of gravity, acting on a mass of
known weight to determine the force exerted by a spring when it is extended away from its neutral
position. In experiment 7 we will take our now known force law for a spring and use it to determine
the centripetal force.

The relationship between the force applied to a spring and the extension of the spring is known as
Hooke’s law and is given by:

F = - kR (Negative, as a restoring force) (1)

where k is the spring constant and R is the extension of the spring. Hooke, besides inventing the
microscope, was the best watchmaker of his day. He was, sadly, a contemporary of Newton and
worked in the shadow of Newton’s genius.

3 Experimental Procedure
While today’s experiment concern’s itself with Hooke’s law, we will be using the same experimental
apparatus to measure the centripetal force. The experimental apparatus, shown in Fig. 1, consists of
two sets of brass cylinders and springs encased in a Lucite tube. Half of the tube is painted black so
that you can observe only one set of the cylinder-spring system. A shaft is mounted at the midpoint of
the Lucite tube. One end of a spring is attached to a brass cylinder and the other end is connected to
the shaft. The radial distance R between the axis of rotation and the center of the brass cylinder can be
determined from the scale (in centimeters) on the Lucite cylinder. (If only one set of the cylinder-
spring system is used, then an unbalance occurs when the assembly is rotated. This unbalance, if
allowed to occur, will result in the destruction of the apparatus.) This week we will be using the
metric scale on the Lucite tube to measure the extension of the spring as a function of the weight of a
series of masses hung on the spring.

6/24/2013
 2

Figure 1: Circular motion apparatus

As shown in Fig. 2, this force exerted by the spring on the mass may be determined from separate
measurements of the elongation of the spring made with successively greater masses hung from it.
Hooke’s Law, Eq. (1), is a linear relation between the restoring force and the displacement. This
formula holds for a spring made from wire whose diameter is small enough so that the spring
contracts to its unstretched length without compressing adjacent turns against each other.

Figure 2: Force vs. elongation

graph for real spring

For many springs, including the spring used in this experiment, Hooke's Law does not hold for all
elongations R. As the spring used in this experiment contracts to its unstretched position, the space
between turns decreases to zero before the restoring force of the spring is zero. As a result, adjacent
turns are compressed against each other although there is no further contraction in the length of the
spring. A significant force must be applied to the spring until these compressive forces are relieved.
Once the compressive forces are relieved, the elongation of the spring will then vary linearly with the
applied force, in accordance with Hooke's Law.
In today’s experiment, you will apply weights (W = mg) to the spring and measure its elongation, and
make a graph of the applied force versus elongation R (see Fig. 2). This will be used in experiment 7
to determine the centripetal force when the mass attached to the spring is rotated. An important aspect
of the analysis of this data will be in determining what range of elongation is correctly described by
Hooke’s law and what range must be ignored because our model of the physical behavior of the
system breaks down. Some tubes will not display the non-linear region in Figure 2 once the first data
point is entered in your graphical analysis.
 Physics 181 - Summer 2013 - Experiment #6 3
3.1 Apparatus
1. Circular motion apparatus consisting of a motor and a shaft, and the hollow Lucite
tube with spring and brass cylinder shown in Fig. 1.
2. Calibrated weights (masses)
3. Weight hanger and threaded rod
4. Double pan balance

3.2 Procedure
Hooke's Law measurements of applied force (W) vs. elongation (R) of the spring.
Measure spring elongation with respect to the rotational axis. In other words, changes in the length of
the spring should be measured as the distance R between the axis of rotation and the center line on the
brass cylinder. This distance is denoted by R in Fig. 1.
Preliminary adjustments
1. Remove the Lucite tube assembly from the shaft of the motor.
2. Mount this assembly on a special horizontal shaft provided for this part of the
experiment. (This horizontal shaft is on front of the circular motion apparatus.) Pull
the apparatus close to the edge of the lab bench so that the Lucite tube hangs over the
edge of the bench. Tube should be able to move, so do not tighten the screws too
tight.
3. Determine the mass of the threaded rob and mass hanger.
4. Record the mass of the brass cylinder written on the end of the Lucite tube. Make sure
that you use the same tube when doing the centripetal experiment.
5. Record the tube number.
Measurements
One should always plot, in Excel, data as it is taken in the lab. When plotting this data on the graph
paper for your lab report, the vertical scale (25 cm in length) should be from 0 to 25 Newtons in steps
of 1 Newton per each cm of the graph, and the horizontal scale (18 cm in length) should be from 7 cm
to 16 cm in steps of 0.5 cm per each cm of the graph. (Assumes R1 is greater than 7.00 cm.)
1. The first measurement is with the brass cylinder only, and with the tube hanging
vertically from the horizontal shaft. Use the center marking on the brass cylinder as a
reference point for recording the elongation distance.
2. Record this elongation distance in cm on your data sheet. Use the edge of a sheet of
paper as a guide to minimize the reading error due to parallax. Masses should be in kg
when calculating the Applied Force (weight) of W = mg in Newtons (N), where g =
9.8035 m/sec2. To ensure that the brass cylinder is hanging freely (not sticking to the
inside of the Lucite tube), tap the Lucite cylinder several times with the side of a
pencil.
6/24/2013
 4
3. Thread the threaded rod into the bottom of the mass in the tube. Add the hanger to the
rod. Add sufficient standard masses (weights) to the hanger to make the total mass to
be within 1 gram of 200 grams (0.20 kilograms). This total mass of 200 grams
includes the masses of the brass cylinder, the threaded rod and the weight hanger.
Measure and record the position of the weight inside the lucite tube with the tube
aligned vertically.

4. Add 200 grams (0.20 kg) of additional mass to the hanger and again record the
elongation position of the center line on the brass cylinder (should now total .40 kg).
Tap the tube gently to ensure accurate reading.

5. Repeat step 5 in increments of 200 grams until the center line of the brass cylinder
reaches an extension of 16.00 cm. (Any position beyond 16.00 cm should not be
recorded due to graphing limits). The weight hanger accommodates only limited
mass. For larger masses, hang the large 1 kg mass from the threaded rod, and hang the
weight hanger from the hook on the bottom of the 1 kg mass. It is suggested that you
add the 1 kg mass after your 1.00 kg reading. Just remove the four 200 gram masses
and attach the 1 kg mass. As usual, assure yourself that the whole assembly is vertical
and that the brass cylinder is not stuck on the inside of the Lucite tube.

6. Warning. Remove all masses as soon as your final measurement is done. Leaving
masses on the spring too long may damage it.

4 Calculations and Analysis of the

Hooke's Law data
1. Using your measurements of mass (m) in your data sheet, compute and record the
value of the applied force (weight) W = mg for each value of the mass m in the
corresponding row. Masses should be in kg when calculating the Applied Force, or
weight, of W = mg in Newtons (N), where g = 9.8035 m/sec2.
2. Plot in Excel (in class), the data for applied force (weight) W = mg in Newtons (N) as
a function of R in centimeters (cm). In your lab report, use the cm-mm graph paper.
When plotting this data on the graph for your lab report, the vertical scale (25 cm in
length) should be from 0 to 25 Newtons in steps of 1 Newton per each cm of the
graph, and the horizontal scale (18 cm in length) should be from 7 cm to 16 cm in
steps of 0.5 cm per each cm of the graph.
3. In Excel, calculate the slope, intercept and R2. Be sure to exclude data that is not
linear. Obtain the value of the slope k (units of N/cm) and the W intercept (W at R =
0). You can now calculate R1. This value is given as R1= - (Wintercept) / (slope k). (This
works, as W will be equal to zero at R = R1.) Record the coefficient of determination,
R2, for this analysis.
For your lab report, draw a single fine line that fits best the linear portion of the data
and extend it to the extreme borders of the graph paper. This line should intercept the
 Physics 181 - Summer 2013 - Experiment #6 5

horizontal R axis at R = R1. Your line is a linear extension of the Hooke's Law region
of your graph. Your graph may resemble the graph in Fig. 2. (The dashed line is a
linear extension of the larger displacement portion of the Hooke's Law region of the
graph.)
4. For your hand drawn graph, compute the slope (spring constant k) in Newtons/cm for
the line of best fit, and find its intercept R1 (in cm) on the R axis at W = 0. On your
graph, indicate the value of the coordinates you used to calculate the slope. Give the
equation for this line (using calculated k and R1) in the form of:

Weight = W = k(R – R1) (2)

5. For your lab report, set your calculator in linear regression mode. Ignoring the data
that are not linear on your graph, enter pairs of data from your data table of W vs. R in
the calculator. Record the spring constant k and intercept, Wintercept. Record the
coefficient of determination, R2. Use your linear regression data to calculate R1. This
value is given as R1= - (Wintercept) / (slope k). . Enter your values of k and R1 in the form
of W = k(R – R1).
6. Bring these values of k and R1 from part 5 above to experiment 7.
7. If there is nonlinear data in your experiment, repeat your linear regression with the
full data set, including the non-linear data points. Record the spring constant k and
intercept, Wintercept. Record the coefficient of determination, R2. Use your linear
regression data to calculate R1. This value is given as R1= - (Wintercept) / (slope k). Note
the difference in your value when only linear data is used in part 5. Enter your values
of k and R1 in the form of W = k(R – R1). Remember, use part 5 for the experiment 7.

5 Questions
1. Based on your hand drawn graph of W vs. R for your lab report, what range of R does
your spring obey Hooke’s law? This question is asking for what values of R are your
values of W linear.
2. Assuming that the spring you used in this experiment continues to obey Hooke’s law,
what will be the value of R if a total mass of 2.60 kg is attached? Show your
calculation.
3. Using the linear expression of the form Y = mx + b, show that when W = 0 at R = R1,
R1 = - (Wintercept) / (k). From this expression, we too have Wintercept = - kR1.
4. Substitute Wintercept = - kR1 into the linear expression for weight W = kR + Wintercept,
and show that W = k(R – R1). Do not answer this question by showing a numerical
calculation. Just do the algebraic substitution.
5. List the different possible sources of error in this experiment. Discuss these errors and
comment on which of them could be most significant to the experimental results.

6/24/2013
 6
6 Conclusion
This section should have a clear statement of the results of the experiment and the extent to which the
results are in agreement with the theory being tested.
To make this comparison meaningful, you should include the impact of the experimental error on
your results. Please include a statement of what you have learned, a critique of the experiment, and
any suggestions you have which you think could improve the experiment or the lab handout.
 Physics 181 - Summer 2013 - Experiment #6 7
Hooke's Law Data Sheet
Measurements of applied force (W) vs. elongation (R) of the spring.
Enter Tube # _______
Hanging Masses

1. Mass of the brass cylinder = _________ g (Use this mass for first elongation data.)
2. Mass of the rod = _________ g
3. Mass of the hanger = _________ g
Total mass of the above three objects = _________ g
Additional mass needed to make the total hanging mass equal to 200 g. ________ g
Note: 200 grams = .2 kg. This will be your second data point.
For weight calculations, use g = 9.8035 m/s2

Mass Elongation Applied Force

(m) (R) (W = mg)
kg cm N
Mass of brass
cylinder only.

0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40

Bring a copy of your data and calculations of k and R1 to the Centripetal Force experiment.

Estimated error in reading scale balance. Errorm = ± m = _______ grams

Estimated error in reading metric scale. ErrorR = ± R = _______ cm

6/24/2013