Finding the spring constant of a spring: Application Experiment

Aim

To estimate the spring constant of the spring used in two different experiments.

Prior Knowledge

1. Elastic potential energy, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy.
2. Vibrational motion.

Description of the Experiment

1. Watch the first movie. Decide what data you need to collect to estimate the spring constant of the spring.
2. Collect the data and estimate the spring constant.
3. Watch the second movie. Its first part shows you that the air does not affect the acceleration of the spring when it is dropped down. Decide how you can use the second part of this movie to estimate the spring constant of the spring.
4. Collect the necessary data and estimate the spring constant.
5. Decide whether the estimates you made in two experiments agree.

Addtional Information

The mass of the spring is 13.4 g.

The mass of the hanging object 100 g.

Youtube movies can be stepped frame by frame using the , and . keys on your keyboard. If you want to download the movie to your computer, right-click or control-click HERE.

Youtube movies can be stepped frame by frame using the , and . keys on your keyboard. If you want to download the movie to your computer, right-click or control-click HERE.

Questions

1. Make a list of physics models that you used to estimate the spring constant in two experiments.
2. Make a list of the relationships between physical quantities that you used to estimate the spring constant in two experiments.
3. What are the limitations of the models? What are the limitations of the relationships?
4. What wasthe purpose of dropping the spring with a ball?