L.D.

College of Engineering
Engineering Physics Lab

Masses and Springs: Basics

Topics
Simple Harmonic Motion

Hooke's Law

1
 PART – A (Static Method)

Aim and Objective:-

(1) To determine spring constant of a given spring by static and dynamic method.
(2) To determine the value of given unknown masses.
(3) To investigate the relationship between the force applied to a spring and the amount
of stretch on a spring.

Background: -
Robert Hooke proposed that the stretch of a spring is proportional to the force applied
to the spring. This is commonly written as,

F = -k (Dx)
Where,
F =Applied force
K=Constant of proportionality or spring
constant,
Δx = Amount of stretch caused by the force.

The negative sign indicates the spring force is a restoring force; in other words, the
spring is always trying to oppose any forces applied to it.

Equipment :- Stand, pendulum clamp, ruler , stick, slotted mass set, spring

Figure 1: Hook’s Law Setup

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Procedure:-

1. Set up equipment as shown in figure with the spring, mass and meter stick.
2. The pendulum clamp and your ruler (or meter stick) should be positioned in such a way that
the tip of the pointer shows the scale reading easily but should not touch the scale.
3. Take note of the position of the pointer's tip on the scale. Observe the equilibrium position (no
force added) of the spring and note this in the observation table against zero load.
4. Gently hang a suitable mass of 50 g at a slotted weight of a hanger. The pointer tip moves
down.
5. Wait till the tip comes to rest and note down the reading then after.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 till the slotted mass upto 300 g has been added.
7. Now unload the weights one by one and repeat the whole procedure until the only hanger is
left.
8. Record all observations in below given format.
Observation Table:-

Least count of a vertical scale = ______

Mass Mass Force Elongation Elongation Average

of spring of spring Spring
M M F=mg while while ∆𝑦 + ∆𝑧 Elongation
loading unloading ∆𝑥 =
Sr. 2
mass mass ∆𝑥
No.
Δy Δz

(g) (kg) (N) (cm) (cm) (cm) (m)

1. (resting
position)

2. 50

3. 100

4. 150

5. 200

6. 250

7. 300

Δy1= ___ Δz1= ___ Δx1= ___ Δx1= ___

8. M1 ---- ----

Δy2 = ___ Δz2 = ___ Δx2 = ___ Δx2 = ___

9. M2 ---- ----

Δy3 = ___ Δz3 = ___ Δx3 = ___ Δx3 = ___

10. M3 ---- ----

3
Calculation : (From observation Table)
a) Average of spring elongation = __________
b) Spring constant (𝑘) = __________
*
𝑘 = ∆+

c) Unknown mass values ,

M1 = _____
M2 = _____
M3 = _____

Graph:
1. Plot a graph of Elongation of spring (Δx) on vertical axis and load (F) on Horizontal
axis.
2. Using y = mx+b, write an equation for a line. Make sure to include appropriate
variables, numbers and units in the equation.
3. The inverse of slope of elongation vs. Force graph is known as spring constant or rate.
4. To find unknown masses, using Δx1, Δx2 and Δx3 values, draw a perpendicular line on
a slope line and find their corresponding F1, F2 and F3 which can be used to find
unknown masses M1, M2 and M3.

Nature of Graph:

4
Calculation: (From Graph)
a) Equation for a line = ________
,-
b) Slope of a graph = = _______
-.
/
c) Spring constant (𝑘) = = __________
01234
d) Unknown mass values ,
M1 = _____
M2 = _____
M3 = _____

PART-B (Dynamic Method)

1. Hang the load on the hanger and start the oscillations.
2. Make sure that the amplitude of the oscillations is small and along the length of the
spring.
3. Find the time for 20 Oscillations three times and record them in a data table.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for six different known values of masses.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for unknown masses M1, M2, M3.

Sr.No. Mass Mass Time taken for Average Periodic T2 m

20 Oscillations Time (Sec)2 T2
5
m m t1 t2 t3 t = t1 + t2 + t3 T=
3 67
(g) (kg) kg/s2
(sec) (sec)
1. 0
(resting
position)
2. 50
3. 100

4. 150

5. 200

6. 250

7. 300

8. M1 ---- ΔtM1= ___ ----

9. M2 ---- ΔtM2= ___ ----

10. M3 ---- ΔtM3= ___ ----

5
Calculation : (From observation Table)
8
a. Average of = ___________ kg/sec2
9:

b. Spring constant (𝑘) = _________

𝑚
𝑘 = 4𝜋 6
𝑇6
c. Unknown mass values ,
M1 = _____
M2 = _____
M3 = _____

Graph:
Nature Of Graph :

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 1. Plot a graph of 𝑇 6(Sec2) on the vertical axis and m kg on
Horizontal axis.
2. Using y = mx + c, write an equation for a line. Make sure to include
appropriate variables, numbers and units in the equation.
3. Find slope of the graph.
4. Find the value of spring constant from the graph.
5. To find unknown masses, using ΔtM1, ΔtM2 and ΔtM3 values, draw a
perpendicular line on slope from y axis and find their corresponding
masses M1, M2 and M3 on x axis.

Calculation: (From Graph)

a) Equation for a line = ________
,-
b) Slope of a graph = = _______
-.
/
c) Spring constant (𝑘) = 4P2 = __________
01234
d) Unknown mass values ,
M1 = ______
M2 = ______
M3 = ______

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Conclusion:
(1) Spring constant of a given spring,

a. PART – A
● Calculated: ________
● Observed from graph: ______
● Percentage Error of spring constant = ________

b. PART – B
● Calculated: ________
● Observed from graph: ______
● Percentage Error of spring constant = ________

(2) Value of given unknown masses,

PART - A

Mass M M %
M (g) (g) error
(g) From Calculation From Plot of Graph
M1

M2

M3

PART - B

Mass M M %
M (g) (g) error
(g) From Calculation From Plot of Graph
M1

M2

M3

(3) The force constant of the given spring is ____ g wt per cm

hence ,with this spring, a spring balance of range 1 kg will
have a scale of length ____ cm

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Precautions:
1) Loading and unloading of weight must be done gently.
2) Reading should be noted only when the tip of the pointer comes to rest.
3) Pointer tip should not touch the scale surface.
4) Loading should not be beyond the elastic limit of spring.

Assignment Questions:
1) State Hooke's law.
2) How does the behaviour of spring change with increasing value of spring
constant?
3) What happens if we keep on hanging weight until spring?
4) If the load M on the spring is made 4 times its previous value, will the
time period then become exactly double its previous value? Explain your
answer.

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Hooke's Law Online Lab
Simulation Section:-
Proceed to Phets simulation on masses and Springs
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/masses-and-springs-basics/latest/masses-and-springs-
basics_en.html

Initial Setup:
1. Set mass to 50g.

2. Set spring strength to lowest setting we will call this spring strength 1

3. Turn on

4. Get ruler.

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5. Put ruler in place 0 at blue line. Do not move ruler again until we repeat the experiment for spring of spring strength.

6. Place the 50g weight on the spring. (Note: we always use the orange known mass here.)

7. Press red button of stop. It will stop at green line.

8. Move red line to green line.

9. Record mass (m), the corresponding weight (w=F=mg) and displacement (Δx) of the spring in the data table.

10. Change value of mass to your desired values using mass bar.
11. Repeat same procedure for all other six values of masses.
12. Now unload same amount of weightsand repeat steps 9 and 10till the
minimum value of mass (50 g) is left.
13. Load unknown masses M1, M2 and M3 (Pink, Blue and Green) one by one, repeat
same procedure and mention spring elongation forthem.
14. 14. Change spring strength to your desired medium strength and repeat steps 5
to 13.
15. 15. Again select newspring strength to your desired large strength and repeat
steps 5 to 13.
16. Draw graph of Force vs. Displacement for all three spring strengths.

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Analysis:
Plot the data for each spring on the graphs below and produce a line of best fit for all.

Ensure proper titling.

Title: Spring strength - small

Slope Calculation:

Title:_________________________________________

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Slope Calculation:

The Unknown Masses:

For each unknown
Determine the unknown masses, using the graphs of each spring that you have created. Indicate
the appropriate points on each graph. It would be great to colour coordinate if you can. Record all
final results in the table below.

Spring K-value Mass of green Mass of blue Mass of pink

Strength unknown unknown unknown

Small

Medium

Large

Conclusions:

Prepare your conclusion based on following question.

1. The k-value of a spring can be found. What is force and displacement relation?
2. Infer the change by changing Gravitational force (virtual lab).
3. Is simple Harmonic Motion possible through this set up?

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Spring Strength - k1
Sr.No. Mass(g) Time taken for 10 Average Time T2 𝑚 K1=4𝜋 6
8
9:
Oscillations time taken for Sec 𝑇6
2
t1 t2 t3 (t) sec one
oscillatio
n
5
(T) sec(/7)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Pink
9 Blue
10 Green

Spring Strength - k3

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Sr.No. Mass(g) Time taken for 10 Average Time T2 𝑚 8
K3=4𝜋 6 9:
Oscillations time taken for Sec 𝑇6
2
t1 t2 t3 (t) sec one
oscillatio
n
5
(T) sec(/7)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Pink
9 Blue
10 Green

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