Lab Report Hooke's Law

CURTIN UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Science and Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, ASTRONOMY AND MEDICAL RADIATION SCIENCE
Unit/Subject: Foundations of Physics - PHYS1006

Instructor Name: Jaiden Cook
Class (time/day/group): 2-4PM, Tuesday
Student Name: Leila Jakupovic

Student Number: 17100900
Student email: 17100900@student.curtin.edu.au
The content of this assessment is own work unless otherwise specified by relevant references
and credits.
Date Due: 10/04/2020
Date submitted: 8/04/2020
1
CURTIN UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Science and Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, ASTRONOMY AND MEDICAL RADIATION SCIENCE
HOOKE’S LAW – BEHAVIOUR OF A SPRING
1. ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To use both static and dynamic equations to calculate the spring constant,
“stiffness”, of a spring.
Hooke’s Law of elasticity is an approximation that states that there is a directly proportional
relationship between the elasticity of a spring and the load which is applied to it. In this
experiment, the value of the elasticity of a spring (k) was obtained using both static and
dynamic equations.
The value for k obtained using the static experiment data was
𝑘 = 1.6015 +/- 0.6320 N/m
The value for k obtained using the line of best fit on the graph of the static experiment was
𝑘 = 1.1317 N/m
The value for k obtained using the dynamic equation data was
𝑘 = 1.1211 +/- 0.2516 N/m
The value for k obtained using the line of best fit on the graph of the dynamic experiment was
𝑘 = 1.9815 N/m
2. THEORY
In a static situation, Hooke’s Law is expressed by

𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥 (1)
Where F is force in Newtons (N), k is the spring constant (N/m), and x is the displacement of
the spring from its equilibrium position. In this instance force is calculated by
𝐹 = 𝑚. 𝑔
Where m is the mass placed at the end of the spring, times gravity. The accepted value of
gravity is
𝑔 = 9.81𝑚𝑠 34 (Giancoli. 2010)
In a dynamic situation, Hooke’s Law is expressed by

8
𝑇 = 2𝜋7 9 (2)
This is a simple harmonic motion. This formula can be rearranged into

𝑇 4 = 4𝜋 4 . 𝑚/𝑘 (3)
Where T is the period of oscillation (s) and m is the mass applied (kg).
Spring constant should be able to be calculated using both methods.
3. METHOD AND MATERIALS
2
Apparatus
1. 4 rubber bands
2. Tape measure
3. Small sandwich bag
4. 4 x identical fishing weights (27g each)
3
1. 4 Rubber bands
3. Small sandwich bag
2. Tape measure
Note: fishing weights not pictured
4
Method
1. 3 rubber bands were cut so that they became long pieces of elastic rather than loops,
then tied end to end to make 1 long piece of elastic. One end was tied to a bath towel
rail, and the sandwich bag was tied to the other end using the 4th rubber band.
2. For the static method, the resting position of the end rubber band chain was measured
with no weights. As each fishing weight was added, the new resting position was
recorded.
For the dynamic method, the end of the rubber band chain was pulled, and the time
taken for 5 oscillations was recorded. This was first done with no weights, then repeated
as each weight was added, and the results were recorded.
4. DATA
Table 1: Measurement of length of rubber band chain as mass is increased

Mass (kg)+/- 0.001 Force (N)+/- Distance from K (N/m) from
0.00100 equilibrium, equation 1
x(cm)+/-0.05
0 0 0 0
0.027 0.26487 3.70 0.71586
0.054 0.52974 3.90 1.35831
0.081 0.79461 4.13 1.92390
0.108 1.05948 4.40 2.40791

Average k = 1.6015 +/- 0.6320 N/m

5

Graph 1: Force vs displacement of a static spring when mass is increased
Force vs displacement of a static spring when mass

is increased
1.2
y = 1.1317x - 3.9012
1 R² = 0.9955
0.8
Force (N)
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
3.6 3.8 4 4.2 4.4 4.6
distance, x (m)

K obtained from graph = 1.1317 +/- 0.0010 N/m

Table 2: Measurements of the period of the rubber band chain as mass is increased

Mass (kg)+/- Time (s) for 5 Time (s) ^2 Time (s)^2/5 K (N/m) from
0.001kg oscillations+/- for 1 equation 2
0.2s (20%) oscillation
0.027 2.71 7.3441 1.46882 0.72570
0.054 3.13 9.7969 1.95938 1.08801
0.081 3.52 12.3904 2.47808 1.29042
0.108 3.93 15.4449 3.08898 1.38028

Average k = 1.1211 +/- 0.2516 N/m

6
Graph 2: Time as mass is increased in a dynamic spring
Time as mass is increased in a dynamic spring

3.5
y = 19.923x + 0.904
3 R² = 0.9974
2.5
2
T2 (s2 )
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
mass (kg)
K obtained from graph = 1.9815 +/- 0.0010 N/m
5. DISCUSSION
In part 1, the static setup, the value of k obtained from the data was 1.6015 +/- 0.6320
N/m. The expected value was 1.1317, the value obtained for k from the data fits within
the uncertainty. This suggests that the static technique of the experiment abides by
Hooke’s Law.

In part 2, the dynamic setup, the value of k obtained from the data was 1.1211 +/-
0.2516 N/m. The expected value was 1.9815, the value obtained does not fit within the
uncertainty. This suggests that the dynamic method of the experiment does not abide by
Hooke’s Law.

The percentage uncertainty of part 1 is 39.46%, and the percentage uncertainty of part
2 is 22.44%. The dynamic is more accurate than the static method.

However, time measurements were hard to obtain accurately in the dynamic method,
due to reaction time not being constant when stopping and starting the stopwatch, as
well as it being extremely difficult to pull the end of the rubber band the same amount
each time. This meant that each measurement had too many variables that were not
constant, causing a result which fell outside of the uncertainty.

While part 2 is more accurate, there were more inconsistences in measurements.

7
REFERENCE
Giancoli, D. 2010. Physics: Principle and applications. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson
Education.
APPENDIX
6. CALCULATIONS
Part 1.
Equation 1 was rearranged to

𝐹
−𝑘 =
𝑚
To find the value for k for each weight. The standard deviation was calculated for the values
for k to find the uncertainty. This was then compared to the gradient obtained from the line of
best fit from the graph.
Part 2.
Equation 3 was rearranged to

k = 4𝜋 4 . 𝑚/𝑇 4
To find the value for k for each weight. The standard deviation was calculated for the values
for k to find the uncertainty. This was then compared to the gradient obtained from the line of
best fit from the graph. The gradient of the graph was
>?@
= 19.923
9
This equation was rearranged to find k
>?@
=k
AB.B4C

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CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Unit/Subject: Foundations of Physics - PHYS1006

Student Name: Leila Jakupovic

HOOKE’S LAW – BEHAVIOUR OF A SPRING

In a static situation, Hooke’s Law is expressed by

In a dynamic situation, Hooke’s Law is expressed by

This is a simple harmonic motion. This formula can be rearranged into

Spring constant should be able to be calculated using both methods.

3. METHOD AND MATERIALS

3. Small sandwich bag

Note: fishing weights not pictured

Table 1: Measurement of length of rubber band chain as mass is increased

Force vs displacement of a static spring when mass

Time as mass is increased in a dynamic spring

K obtained from graph = 1.9815 +/- 0.0010 N/m

Equation 1 was rearranged to

Equation 3 was rearranged to

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