LESSON 2.

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Understanding
elasticity.
Meaning of Elasticity

Elasticity is the property of a

substance which enables it to return to
original shape @ size @ length after
an applied external force(
compressive force or stretching force)
is removed.

Why is a solid is elastic ?

Graph of force between molecules

, F against the distance beween
molecules, x.

At distance X1 : is the equilibrium

The property of elasticity is caused by
the existence of two forces between
molecules or atoms in the solid
material.
The two forces are force of repulsion
and force of attraction between
molecules.
When a compressive force is applied
to the solid,force of repulsion between
the molecules pushes the molecules
back to their equilibrium positions.
When a stretching force is applied to
the solid force of attraction between
the molecules pulls the molecules
back to their equilibrium positions.
In the absence of an applied external
force on the solid, the force of
attraction is balanced by the force of
repulsion or the resultant force is
zero.
position where the resultance force is
zero.
At distance X < X1 : the solid is
compressesd where force of repulsion
> force of attraction.
At distance X1 < X<X2 : the solid is
stretched where force of attraction
tarikan > force of repulsion until the
force of attraction reaches a
maximum value at X2.
At distance X > X2 : the force of
attraction will decrase and the
molecular layer will begin to slip and
solid will permanently change its
shape. The point where the solid loses
its elastic characteristics is call as the
elastic limit. After this limit , the solid
will not return to its original shape.
Restoring Force

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 spring constant , k = Gradient of the
graph

A larger value of k or gradient

indicates a stiffer spring.

Figure(a): The spring is untstretched

,i.e at natural length and exerts zero
force on the trolley.
Figure(b): As the spring is stretched to
the right, it exerts a force to the left on P: stiff spring
the trolley. This is called a restoring Q: soft spring
force.

Hooke’s Law
Hooke’s Law states that the extension
of an elastic substance is directly
proportional to the stretching force
acting on it provided that the elastic
limit is not exceeded.

Graph of Stretching Force, F

against Spring extension,
A : Elastic limit
OA : The graph is a straight line
@ F x passing through the origin. Thus the
F=kx stretching force is directly proportional
to the extension of the spring and
F = the acting force or the effort Hooke’s law is obeyed.
X = extension AB: The graph takes the form a curve,
k = the spring constant that is the stretching force is not vary
directly with extension of the spring
and Hooke’s law is no applicable.
Spring constant , k
Why does the oscillation of a
F = kx, spring stops?
k=F
x If you leave a mass on a spring
oscillating it eventually slows down
the unit of k is Nm-1 and stops. Air resistance slows the

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object down. Energy is lost from the
system in overcoming this friction.
This effect is called damping.
In an ammeter or in a car’s suspension
needs to stop the oscillations as
quickly as possible .So damping proses
should be happen as quickly as
possible.
Factors affecting the rate of
extension or stiffness of a spring.
Type of spring material: A Hooke ‘ law and it caused the
spring made from a hard material
extending shorter than a spring
made from a soft material. For
example a steel spring extending
shorter than a copper spring.
Diameter of spring coil: A spring
coil of a larger diameter is easier to
stretch ( the rate of extension is high)
compared to a spring coil of smaller
diameter.
Diameter of the wire of the spring
: A spring coil made from a thicker
wire is harder ( the rate of extension is
low) compared a spring made from a
thinner wire.
Spring arrangement: Stretch of a
spring in series is more easier than
stretch of a spring in parallel.
The original length of the spring:
Stretch of a longer spring is more
easier than stretch of a shorter spring
. a continuous-drawn nylon fibre
The spring constant , k : The spring
which has a larger value of k is the
spring which more stiff(the rate of
extension is low)
Use of Elasticity in Everyday Life:
(1) Cushion/tmattress: The spring in
a cushion or mattress undergo
many cycles of compression
during use and each time the
cushion is able to return to its
original shape. This is due to the
elasticity of the springs.
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(2) Electric meter : Electric meters
such as ammeter, voltmeter and
galvanometer have spiral springs.
The springs are used to stop the
pointer at a specific point on the
scale or to return the pointer to
the zero mark on the scale after a
measurement has been taken
(3) Weighing apparatus: A
weighing apparatus such as spring
balance , a spring is either
extended or compressed and it
obeys the
apparatus has a linear scale.
(4) Vehicles spring support: It
ebnables the
passengers in a vehicle to be
seated in a comfortable position
when the vehicle goes on a bumpy
road because springs shock
absorbers are mounted on the
wheels of vehicles to absorb
impacts and damp vibrations
resulting from movement on the
bumpy road or uneven road
surface.
(5) In sports : The elastic strings of a
tennis or a badminton racket
enable them to rebound the ball or
shuttle.
The ropes used by rock climbers
have elastic properties that can
save lives during climbing
accidents. The ropes are made of
core and a protective textile
covering . This reduces the
stopping force acting on a falling
climber.
A bow bends or elastic twine of the
bow is stretched to store the
elastic potential energy used to
propel the arrow.
Spring Systems
There are two ways to arrange a
spring, that is,
(a) Series arrangement
(b) Parallel arrangement
 Series Parallel
In series arrangement same load is
applied to each spring i.e W
In parallel arrangement the load is
shared equally among the springs . i.e
W
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Solution
Example 1
The original length of a spring is 5 cm.
With a load of mass 20 g, the length of Elastic Potential Energy ( Ee)
the spring is extended to
7 cm. Elastic potential energy is the energy
Determine stored in a elastic matter when it is
(a) the extension of the spring with a extended or compressed.
load 40 g Thus,
(b) the length of the spring with a load
60 g. Ee = ½ F x = ½ kx2 =
the load required to extend the Area under the
spring to 20 cm. gr
aph F vs. x
Solution
F = Force
x = extension k=
spring constant

Example 3

The original length of a spring is 12

cm. With a load of 20 g , the length
of the spring is extended to 15 cm.
What is the elastic potential energy
stored in the spring?
Example 2
Solution
Spring A extends by 2 cm when it
hung with a 10 g weight. Spring B
extends by 4 cm when it hung with a
10g weight. Find the total stretch in
each of the spring systems shown in
the following figure.
Example 4

Figure shows a graph of force,F

against extension,x for a spring.

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What is the potential energy stored
when the spring is extended by 0.4
m?

Solution

Example 5

Figure shows a ball of mass 10 g

pushed against one end of a spring on
a smooth surface. The original length TUTORIAL
of the spring is 14 cm and its spring
constant is 200 N m-1. 2.11
1 property of elasticity is caused by
the existence of

A the force of repulsion between

molecules
B the force of attraction between
molecules
C the force of repulsion and
attraction between molecules

2 The relationship between

Determine
stretching force,F,with the
(a) the elastic potential energy stored
extension,x , of a spring is given
in the spring.
by the equation;
(b) the maximum velocity reached by
F = kx
the ball after the compressive
where k is the spring constant.
force on the spring is removed.
What is the unit of K?
Solution
A N m-1 B N m-2
C kg m-1 D kg m-2

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3 The spring constant ,k increases
when

A the spring length incraeases

B the diameter of the sprig
incraeases
C the diameter of the spring wire
increases
Which section of the graph
4 The figure shows two springs with
Hooke’s law is obeyed?
a different original length . A piece
of wood slowly moved towards the
A AO
wall with a force F so that the
B AB
springs are compressed together
C At point B
with a distance,x
D After point B

6 A spring extends by 4 cm when it

hung with a load of 8N. Find the
weight of a load when hung from
the same spring, produces an
extension of 5 cm.

A 9N B 10 N
Which one of the following graph is C 12 N D 14 N
true? E 16 N

7 The figure shows a spring of

length 18 cm compressed to a
length of 10 cm by a load of P
and compressed to a length of
8 cm by a load of 10 kg.

5 The figure shows a force-

extension graph for a spring. What is the value of P ?

A 4 kg B 6 kg
C 8 kg D 9 kg
E 12 kg

8 Figure shows (a) the pointer

reading of a spring without load.
Figure (b) and (c) show the pointer

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 reading of the spring when it is springs, P, Q and R. All the springs
loaded with a different load. are identical.
P Q
R

What is the value of M?

A 100g B 180g
Which comparison is correct about
C 200 g D 240g
the extension nof P,Q and R?
E 300g
A P<Q<R B Q< R<
9 Figure (a) and (b) show the two
P
positions of a pin when a spring is
C R< Q < P D Q< P<
loaded with two different weights.
R

11 The figure shows two springs K

and L having and original length 5
cm each are connected in series to
a 400 g weight .
[ Spring K extends 2 cm when it is
hung with a
200 g .
Spring L extends 3 cm when it is
hung with a
00 g ]

What is the reading on the pin

when 20 g of the load in Figure (b)
is removed.

A 5.00 cm B 10.00
cm What is the length of AB?
C 15.00 cm D 18.75
cm E 20.00 cm A 16 cm B 21 cm
C 23 cm D 24 cm
10 The figure shows a load M E 26 cm
supported by the arrangements of

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12 Figure(a) shows a spring of length
10 cm compressed to a length of
8 cm by a load of
20 N. Figure (b) shows five
identical springs are compressed
by a load of 60 N to a length of L.
14 Figure(a) shows a spring P extends
by 5 cm when it hung with a 0.5
kg weight. Figure (b) shows four
springs P are arranged in a
system and it hung with a 1.0 kg
load.

What is the value of L?

What is the total extension of the
A 5 cm B 7 cm spring system?
C 9 cm D 13 cm
E 15 cm A 5.0 cm B 10.0 cm
C 15.0 cm D 20.0
13 Figure (a) shows two springs A and cm
B having an original length of 10 E 25.0 cm
cm each are loaded with the mass
of 100 g and 200 g respectively. 15 Figure(a) shows a spring J extends
Figure (b) shows the springs A and to a certain value when it hung
B are with a 40 g weight. The Figure (b)
arranged in series and it is loaded shows three springs K,L and M are
with the mass arranged in parallel extends to
of 300g. same value as spring J when it
hung with a weight P.

What is the value of P if the

spring J,K,L and M are identical
What is the length of P? springs.

A 55 cm B 100 cm A 60g B 80g

C 70 cm D 105 cm C 120g D 160g
E 125 cm E 200 g

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16 Figure (a) and Figure (b) shows six
identical springs E, F, G, H, I, and J A 6 cm B 4 cm
whose original length is 12 cm C 3 cm D 2 cm
each. E 1 cm

19 Figure (a) shows a metal sphere of

weight of
F N is placed atop a spring and it
is found the extension of the
spring is x cm.
Figure (b) shows the graph F
against x for the spring.
When the extension of the spring
is 20 cm , the metal sphere is
What is the value of L? released.

A 26 cm B 28 cm
C 30 cm D 32 cm
E 34 cm

17 A spring is compressed with a

force of 300 N . If the compression
of the spring is 0.05 m, what is the
potential energy stored in the What is the velocity of the metal
spring? sphere ?

A 7.5 J B 15.0 J A 1 ms –1 B 2 ms-1

C 3 000 J D 6000 J C 3ms-1 D 4 ms-1
E 12 000 J E 6ms-1

18 The figure shows a spring having 20 Figure (a) shows the arrangement
an original of apparatus to investigate the
length of 20 cm. When the relationship between the
spring is compressed extension, x, of a spring and
by a steel ball of mass 0.1 kg, the weight of load W. The
length of the relationship between x and W is
spring becomes 14 cm. The steel shown in the graph in Figure (b).
ball moves up
at a height h when it is is
released.

Figure(a) Figure(b)
(a) State the S.I. unit for weight.
What is the value of h ?

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 ............................................. ………………………………………
................. …………
(b) Name the law that relates x (d) Which of the spring is the most
and W. suitable to measure the big
force. Explain why?
.............................................
................ ………………………………………
(c) State the relationship ………
between x and W.
............................................. ………………………………………
............... ………
(d) State the physical quantity
which can be represented
by the area below the graph (e) State two factors why the
line. extension of the spring A is
different from the extension of
............................................. the spring B?
...............
………………………………………
20 The figure shows a graph ………
extension , x against Force,F for
two springs A and B. The spring A ………………………………………
and B having an original length of ………
10 cm each. (f) Create an arrangement of the
spring A and B to get the
extension of the spring system
is 10 cm when a load of 10 N is
hung.

21 Figure(a) shows the arrangement

of apparatus in an experiment to
determine the relationship
between the extension e of a
spring T with weight W. The
relationship of e with W is shown
in the graph in Figure(b).
(a) Based on the graph , state the
relationship between the
extension,x and the force,F.

………………………………………
…………
(b) State the law involved.

………………………………………
…………
(c) What is the physical quantity is
represented by the gradient of
the graph? Figure(a)
Figure(b)

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(a) A law states that;
The extension of a spring
is directly proportional to
the force applied if the
elastic limit of the spring is
not exceeded.
(i) Name this law

………………………
…………….
(ii) Mark with a cross (x)
the elastic limit of
the spring on the
graph in Figure (b).

(b) The spring stores energy when
it is extended.
Calculate the energy stored in
the spring when it is extend by
4 cm.
22 Figure (a) shows an archer
shoots a target Figure (b) the
archer shoots the same target
but at different distance.

(c) Another spring, identical to

spring T , is added to the
arrangement in Figure(a). This
new arrangement is shown in
Figure(c). The experiment is
the repeated.
Observe the conditions of each
bow and the distance of the
target from the archer.
Based on the observations:

(a) State one suitable

inference that can be
made.
(b) State one apporopriate
Figure(c) hypothesis for an
Sketch the graph of W against investigation.
e for this experiment on the (c) With the use of apparatus
graph in Figure (b). such as trolley, ticker timer
and other apparatus ,
describe an experimental

88
 framework to test your
hypothesis.
In your description , state
clearly the following:
(i) Aim of the experiment
(ii) Variables in the
experiment
(iii) List of apparatus and
materials
(iv) Arrangement of the
apparatus
(v) The procedure of the
experiment which
include the
method of controlling
the
manipulated variable
and the
method of measuring
the
responding variable.
(vi) Way you
wouldttabulate the
data
(vii) Way you would
analysis the
data

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