Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Lets get into the Delorean

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Task
Identify the relationship between force and extension
of a spring.
Use PowerPoint on VLE to draw correct table, decide
whether it is directly or inversely proportional, to
identify dependent, independent and control
variables and calculate the uncertainty.
Draw a graph. Graph should include results from all 3
experiments and have 3 separate lines of best fit.
Use work done equation and graph to calculate
elastic strain energy.
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Results tables
3.05
0.14

0.15

0.13

0.14

Headings should be clear

Physical quantities should have units
All measurements should be recorded (not just the average)
Correct s.f. should be used.
The average should have the same number of s.f. as the original
measurements.
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Force (N)

Extension (cm)
Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

Mean

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

length of
spring

Each axis should be

labelled with a quantity
name (or symbol) and its
unit.

cm

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

F
N

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Both vertically and horizontally your points should

occupy at least half of the available graph paper

GOOD

POOR

AWFUL

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Best fit lines

Best fit lines can be curves!
The line should be drawn so that
there are roughly the same
number of points above and
below.

too steep
too high
too low
correct
too
shallow

Anomalous points should be

rechecked. If this is not possible
they should be ignored when
drawing the best-fit line
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Measuring gradients
gradient = y-step (y)
x-step (x)
The triangle used to find the
gradient should be shown on the
graph.

Each side of the triangle should

be at least 8cm long.
Gradients usually have a unit.

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Direct proportion
Physical quantities are directly
proportional to each other if when one of
them is doubled the other will also double.
A graph of two quantities that are directly
proportional to each other will be:

y
m

a straight line
AND pass through the origin

The general equation of the straight line in this

case is: y = mx, in this case, c = 0

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Inverse proportion

Physical quantities are inversely

proportional to each other if when one of
them is doubled the other will halve.
A graph of two quantities that are inversely
proportional to each other will be:
a rectangular hyperbola
has no y- or x-intercept

Inverse proportion can be verified by drawing

a graph of y against 1/x.
This should be:
a straight line
AND pass through the origin

x
y

1/x

The general equation of the straight line in

this case is: y = m / x
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Mean value <x>

Mean value calculated by adding the readings
together and dividing by the number of
readings.
Readings: 45g; 44g; 44g; 47g; 46g; 45g
Mean value of mass <m>:
= (45+44+44+47+46+45) / 6
<m> = 45.2 g
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

The uncertainty (or probable error) in

the mean value of a measurement is
half the range expressed as a value
Example: If mean mass is 45.2g and the
range is 3g then:
The probable error (uncertainty) is 1.5g

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Uncertainty in a single reading

OR when measurements do not vary
The probable error is
equal to the precision in
reading the instrument
For the scale opposite
this would be:
0.1 without the magnifying
glass
0.02 perhaps with the
magnifying glass
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Percentage uncertainty
percentage uncertainty = probable error x 100%
measurement
Example: Calculate the % uncertainty the mass
measurement 45 2g
percentage uncertainty = 2g x 100%
45g
= 4.44 %
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Combining percentage uncertainties

1.

Multiplication or Division

Add the percentage uncertainties together.

Examples:
1. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in force causing a
mass of 50kg 10% to accelerate by 20 ms -2 5%.
F = ma
Hence force = 1000N 15% (10% plus 5%)
2. Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the density of a
material of mass 300g 5% and volume 60cm3 2%.
D=M/V
Hence density = 5.0 gcm-3 7% (5% plus 2%)

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Significant figures and uncertainty

The percentage uncertainty in a measurement or calculation
determines the number of significant figures to be used.
Example:
mass = 4.52g 10%
10% of 4.52g is 0.452g
The uncertainty should be quoted to 1sf only. i.e. 0.5g
The quantity value (4.52) should be quoted to the same
decimal places as the 1sf uncertainty value. i.e. 4.5
The mass value will now be quoted to only 2sf.
mass = 4.5 0.5g
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Hookes law
The force (F ) needed to stretch a spring is directly
proportional to the extension (L ) of a spring from its
natural length.

F L
Adding a constant of proportionality:

F = k L
k is called the spring constant
The spring constant is the force required to produce an
extension of one metre.
unit = Nm-1
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Elastic limit
Up to a certain extension if the force is removed the
spring will return to its original length. The spring is
said to be behaving elastically.
If this critical extension is exceeded, known as the
elastic limit, the spring will be permanently stretched.
Plastic behaviour then occurs and Hookes law is no
longer obeyed by the spring.

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Question
A spring of natural length
15cm is extended by 3cm
by a force of 6N. Calculate
(a) the spring constant and
(b) the length of the spring
if a force of 18N is applied.
(a) F = k L
k = F / L
= 6N / 0.03m
spring constant, k
= 200 Nm-1

(b) F = k L
L = F / k
= 18N / 200 Nm-1
L = 0.09 m
= 9 cm
And so the
springs length
= 24 cm

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Elastic strain energy

force

The graph opposite shows

how the force varies as the
spring extends.
The work done in extending
the spring is given by:
work = force x distance

extension

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Elastic strain energy

= average tensile force x extension

force
F

= F L
= area under the curve
= energy stored in the spring
area = F L

and so:
0

extension

elastic strain energy = F L

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Answers

Complete:

tensile force

extension

strain energy

120 N

2m

120 J

40 N

15 cm

3J

3 kN

100
50 mm

2 MN
4

6 m

150 J
12 J

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

Question
A spring of original length 20cm
extends to 25cm when a weight
of 4N is hung from it. Calculate:
(a) the elastic strain energy
stored in the spring,
(b) the spring constant
(c) the length of the spring when
it is storing 0.5 J of energy.

(a) strain energy

= F L
= x 4N x 0.05m
strain energy
= 0.10 J

Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional

Measuring Hookes Law

You MUST investigate and use Hookes Law, F = kx, and know that it applies only to some materials
You SHOULD identify the uncertainty in measurements. (Most)
You COULD calculate the elastic strain energy Eel in a deformed material sample, using the expression Eel =
1/2Fx, and from the area under its force/extension graph

(b) F = k L
k = F / L = 4N / 0.05m
spring constant, k = 80 Nm-1
(c) strain energy = F L and F = k L when combined
give: strain energy = k (L)2
L = (2 x strain energy / k)
= (2 x 0.5 / 80)
= (0.0125)
= 0.112m
Therefore spring length = 20cm + 11.2cm
= 31.2 cm
Keywords Elastic Behavior, Plastic Deformation, Directly Proportional