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Spring Constant

This document describes an experiment to determine the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension. It explains the principle of Hooke's law, lists the required materials, provides the step-by-step procedure, discusses observations, calculations, results, precautions, and sources of error.

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89 views15 pages

Spring Constant

This document describes an experiment to determine the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension. It explains the principle of Hooke's law, lists the required materials, provides the step-by-step procedure, discusses observations, calculations, results, precautions, and sources of error.

Uploaded by

sparif222
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment Name

To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a


graph between load and extension.
Principle
The helical spring, is the most commonly used mechanical spring in which a wire is wrapped in a coil
that resembles a screw thread. It can be designed to carry, pull, or push loads. Twisted helical springs
are used in engine starters and hinges.

Let’s study how we can use the helical spring to do our experiment.
The helical spring is suspended vertically from a rigid support. The
pointer is attached horizontally to the free end of spring.

A metre scale is kept vertically in such a way that the tip of the pointer
is over the divisions of the scale; but does not touch the scale.

Helical spring works on the principle of Hooke’s Law. Hooke’s Law


states that within the limit of elasticity, stress applied is directly
proportional to the strain produced.
Principle
When a load ‘F’ is attached to the free end of a spring, then the spring elongates through a distance ‘l’
.Here ‘l’ is known as the extension produced. According to Hooke’s Law, extension is directly
proportional to the load.

This can be represented as:

k = mg/l
where ‘k’ is constant of proportionality. It is called the force constant or the spring constant of the spring.

A graph is drawn with load M in kg wt along X axis and extension, l in metre along the Y axis. The
graph is a straight line whose slope will give the value of spring constant, k .
Instrument
• A helical spring
• A rigid support
• Weight hanger
• 50g or 20 g slotted weights
• A vertical wooden scale
• A fine pointer
Procedure
1. The helical spring is suspended
vertically from a rigid support. A
pointer is attached horizontally at the
free end of the spring.
2. A metre scale is kept vertically in
such a way that the tip of the pointer
is over the divisions of the scale, but
does not touch the scale.
Procedure
3. A dead weight, w0 is suspended by the weight
hanger to keep the spring vertical. The reading
of the pointer on the metre scale is noted.
Procedure

4. Now, gently add a suitable load of 50 g


slotted weights to the hanger and the reading
of the pointer is noted.

5. The weights are added one by one till the


maximum load is reached. In each case, the
reading of the pointer is noted.
Procedure
6. The weights are then removed one by one and the reading of the pointer is noted in each case of
unloading.
7. The average of the readings for each load during loading and unloading is calculated in each case.
Let z0, z1, z2, z3…etc.., be the average readings of the pointer for the loads w0, (w0+50), (w0+100),
(w0+150) etc.
8. From this, extension, l (in m) for the loads (w0+50), (w0+100), (w0+150) etc. are calculated as (z1-
z0), (z2-z0), (z3-z0) respectively.
9. In each case, k =mg/l is calculated. The average value of k gives the spring constant in N/m.
10. A graph is drawn with load M in kg wt along X axis and extension, l in metre along the Y axis. The
graph is a straight line. The reciprocal of the slope of the graph is determined. It gives spring constant
in kg wt/m. The spring constant in N/m is obtained by multiplying this with g=9.8 m/s2.
Observation
Table: Measuring spring constant of a helical spring.
Sample Table
Calculation

Mean k=…………N/m.
Calculation
Spring constant, k from load extension graph
Result

By calculation, the force constant of the given spring = .............N/m.

From load-extension graph, the force constant of the given spring =……….N/m
Precautions
1. The spring should be suspended from a rigid support and it should
hang freely so that it remains vertical.
2. Slotted weights should be chosen according to elastic limit of the
spring.
3. Loading and unloading weight must be done gently.
4. After adding or removing the slotted weight on the hanger, wait for
sometime before noting the position of the pointer on the scale because
the spring takes time to attain equilibrium position.
Sources of Error
1. The support may not be rigid.
2. Pointer may not be horizontal.
3. Slotted weights may not show correct weight.
4. One might record inaccurate readings of spring extension.
5. Environmental conditions too may be a source of error.

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