PHY094

HOOKE’S LAW

PARTNER(S):Nor Farhan Fitri Bin Nor Effendi,Muhammad Nur Salehuddin Shaharuddin,Farhah

Batrisyia Binti Abdul Rahim,Nor Iffah Farhana Binti Harun, Fatin Alia Binti Mohd Faisal

DATE PERFORMED: October 20,2021

LECTURER: Zulhairusnizam Bin Md. Darus

 Experiment: Hooke’s Law

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions and submit your group’s answer to the instructor.

1. When you apply a 52 N force, a spring extends 13 cm. Assume the spring obeys Hooke’s
Law. What is the spring constant (in N/m) for this spring?

𝐹 = 52 𝑁
𝑥 = 0. 13 𝑚
𝐹 =− 𝑘𝑥
𝐹
𝑘 =− 𝑥
52 𝑁
=− 0.13𝑚
−1
=− 400 𝑁𝑚

2. As above, when you apply a 52 N force, a spring extends by 13 cm. How much energy
was required to stretch the spring assuming you started from its unstretched length? How
much energy (in Joules) must you use to stretch another 13 cm (from 13 cm to 26 cm)?

𝑥 = 0 𝑚 𝑡𝑜 0. 13 𝑚
1 2
𝑃𝐸 = 2 𝑘△𝑥
1 2 1 2
= 2
(400)(0. 13) − 2
(400)(0)
= 3. 38 𝐽

𝑥 = 0. 13 𝑚 𝑡𝑜 0. 26 𝑚
1 2
𝑃𝐸 = 2
𝑘△𝑥
1 2 1 2
= 2
(400)(0. 26) − 2
(400)(0. 13)
= 10. 14 𝐽

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 3. Suppose you have a mass m attached to a spring with constant k. The mass rests on a
horizontal frictionless surface. Its equilibrium position is at x = 0. It is pulled aside a
distance A and released. What is the speed of the mass as it passes the position x = A/2 (in
terms of k, m, and A)? (Hint: Use conservation of energy)

𝐸𝑖 = 𝐸𝑓
1 2 1 2
2
𝑚𝑣 = 2
𝑘𝑥
2 𝐴 2
𝑚𝑣 = 𝑘( 2 )
2
2 𝐴
𝑚𝑣 = 𝑘( 4
)
2
2 𝑘𝐴
𝑚𝑣 = 4
2 2
4𝑚𝑣 = 𝑘𝐴
2
𝑘𝐴
𝑣 = 4𝑚

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the value of spring elasticity,k of 2 springs,
Spring A and Spring B, as well as to verify Hooke’s Law. The value of the spring constant is
determined by the elongation of both springs when various masses are hung at the end of each
spring. The value of k obtained on spring A is 0. 30 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² , while the the value of k obtained
on spring B is 0. 35 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² . Based on the results, we have verified that the springs’ behaviour
followed Hooke’s Law.

INTRODUCTION

A 17th century physicist Robert Hooke established a law based on the study of stress vs strain
curve in order to comprehend elastic materials. These studies were employed in his design for
watch balancing spring which is now known as Hooke’s Law (Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d).
Hooke’s law states that the force that is applied on an object is directly proportional to the
extension of a spring until its limitations. (Khan Academy,n.d). It is typically written as

F=-kx

where F is force applied to the spring and x is the displacement of the spring while k is the spring
constant. The negative value is indicating the restoring force is always in the opposite direction
with the displacement (Williams,2015). It is important to acknowledge that spring can be restored
to its original shape after distortion which is called the restoring force. These restoring forces
must be consistent when solving elasticity problems.

If the force is applied to a vertically hanging spring, the length of the spring varies by an amount
y. Experiment results reveal that F is proportional to y. So this equation will be as F=-ky. Noted
that the spring that not stretched or compressed is said to be in equilibrium position,then the

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 1 2
equation for this situation is 𝑃𝐸 = 2
𝑘𝑥 .

OBJECTIVES

a) To verify Hooke’s Law

b) To determine the value of spring elasticity, k

THEORY

If a force, F is exerted on a vertically suspended spring, the length of the spring changes an
amount y from its initial length. Experiment shows that F is directly proportional to y. That is

F=ky (1.1)

where k is called the spring elasticity

The spring itself exerts a restoring force which returns the spring to its original length. This

relation is known as Hooke’s law and is given by:

F=-ky (1.2)

The minus sign in equation (1.2) shows that the restoring force is always in the opposite

direction of the displacement.

If the difference in applied force ∆𝐹 is given, the spring would then experience an elongation

∆𝑦 that can be written as in equation (1.3).

F=k∆y (1.3)

APPARATUS

Stand with graduated scale, scale pan for masses, springs, and set of masses.

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METHODOLOGY

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1. Apparatus is set up as shown in Figure 1.2. The length, 𝑌𝑜 of Spring A is measured without
the scale pan and masses.

2. The mass of the scale pan, mpan, is measured and hooked onto the spring. Measure the length,
𝑌1of the spring.

3. 25g mass, mmass is added onto the scale pan. The length, 𝑌2of the spring is measured

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4. Step 3 is repeated using a mass of 50g, 75g, 100g, 125g and 150g.

5. The whole procedure is repeated to get the second reading. Then, the average reading is
calculated.

6. All the above steps are repeated using Spring B with the same setup.

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 RESULT

Table 1.1

Mass, Force, Length of spring A, y (mx 10 ⁻² ) Elongation of

mmass 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 spring, ∆𝑦
(kg) (N) (mx 10⁻² )

𝑌𝑜 Reading 1 Reading 2 Average 𝑌𝑛 − 𝑌𝑜

Reading

0.05 0.49 0 0 0 0 0

0.10 0.98 0 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

0.15 1.47 0 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3

0.20 1.96 0 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9

0.25 2.45 0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5

0.30 2.94 0 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.2

Table 1.2

Mass, Force, Length of spring B, y (m x10⁻² ) Elongation of

mmass 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 spring, ∆𝑦 (m
(kg) (N) x10⁻² )

𝑌𝑜 Reading 1 Reading 2 Average 𝑌𝑛 − 𝑌𝑜

Reading

0.05 0.49 0 0 0 0 0

0.10 0.98 0 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4

0.15 1.47 0 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8

0.20 1.96 0 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2

0.25 2.45 0 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6

0.30 2.94 0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

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ANALYSIS

Spring A

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SPRING A

Centroid

0+1.6+3.3+4.9+6.5+8.2
𝑥= 6
= 4. 1 𝑚 𝑥10⁻²

0.49+0.98+1.47+1.96+2.45+2.94
𝑦= 6
= 1. 715 𝑁

𝑚 = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ

∆𝐹
𝑚= ∆𝑦

1.715− 0
𝑚= 4.08 − 0

𝑚 = 0. 42 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

∆𝐹
𝑚₁ = ∆𝑦

0.20− 1.47
𝑚₁ = 0− 3.30

𝑚₁ = 0. 38 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

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 ∆𝐹
𝑚₂ = ∆𝑦

1.96− 2.94
𝑚₂ = 4.90 − 8.20

𝑚₂ = 0. 30 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

𝑚₁−𝑚₂ 0.38−0.30
𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 = 2
= 2
= 0.04 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

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SPRING B

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SPRING B

centroid

0+1.4+2.8+4.2+5.6+7.0
𝑥= 6
= 3. 5 𝑚 𝑥10⁻²

0.49+0.98+1.47+1.96+2.45+2.94
𝑦= 6
= 1. 715 𝑁

𝑚 = 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ

∆𝐹
𝑚= ∆𝑦

1.72 − 0
𝑚= 3.50− 0

𝑚 = 0. 49 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

∆𝐹
𝑚₁ = ∆𝑦

1.47 − 0.49
𝑚₁ = 2.8 − 0

𝑚₁ = 0. 35 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

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 ∆𝐹
𝑚₂ = ∆𝑦

1.96− 2.45
𝑚₂ = 4.20 − 5.60

𝑚₂ = 0. 35 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

𝑚₁−𝑚₂ 0.35−0.35
𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 = 2
= 2
= 0.00 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²

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DISCUSSION

From this experiment we calculated the average length of both springs,spring A and spring B after
holding two trials for reading taking 0.05kg, 0.10kg, 0.15kg, 0.20kg, 0.25kg and 0.30kg that hung
at the end of the two springs.

For spring A, the change in length as a result of applied force was tabulated in table 1.1, whereas
results for spring B were tabulated in table 1.2 as shown above. Both tabulated data were used to
plot two best fit line graphs for each spring.

The first graph which belongs to spring A starts as a straight line. That means that the gradient is
constant for the part of the graph. That means the spring A obeys Hooke’s Law up to the final
point,where the gradient is still constant.

By using F=kx, the gradient of the line on the graph being object k and the x being the elongation
measured.However,in calculations that follow the plotted graph data, the gradient indicated the
∆𝐹
spring constant which three possible values had formed following the formula, 𝑚 = .The
∆𝑦

first gradient value is ,𝑚 = 0. 42 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² the second value is

𝑚₁ = 0. 38 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² and the third one is 𝑚₂ = 0. 30 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² .

For spring B, the second graph also starts as a straight line graph.That means that the gradient is
constant for the part of the graph.Also showed that spring B obeys Hooke’s Law up to the final
point, where the gradient is still constant.

As per spring A, spring B also used F=kx which k is the spring constant and x is the elongation of
the spring plus F is the applied force. Three values were out from the calculation that has made by
∆𝐹
using the formula 𝑚 = .The first value is 𝑚 = 0. 49 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10²,the second value is
∆𝑦

𝑚₁ = 0. 35 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² , and the third one is 𝑚₂ = 0. 35 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² .

Both spring were also calculated the uncertainty values that formed from the experiment, spring A
𝑚₁−𝑚₂
has the uncertainty value, 0.04 𝑁𝑚 𝑋10² by using 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 = 2
,but spring

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showed no uncertainty value.

This test showed that both spring A and spring B obey the Hooke’s Law

CONCLUSION

To conclude, the experiment proves Hooke’s Law. When different masses are applied to spring A
and spring B, both stretch within their elastic limit showing that the force applied is directly
proportional to the extension of the springs.

The uncertainty may occur in any measurement taking because we can find out whether our
measurements that we made were accurate, precise and realistic.

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REFERENCES

1. Khan Academy (n.d) What is Hooke's Law? (article). Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/work-and-energy/hookes-law/a/what-is-hookes
-law.

2. Encyclopedia Britannica (n.d) Robert Hooke | Biography, Discoveries, & Facts. Retrieved
from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Hooke.

3. M. Williams (16 February 2015) What is Hooke's Law? Retrieved from

https://phys.org/news/2015-02-law.html.

4. Hooke's law. Writing the conclusion - The Student Room

5.Hooke's Law Lab Report (studylib.net)

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