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LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT Hooke’s Law

NAME Muhammad Harith Danish Bin
Azlan
STUDENT ID 2020451212
LAB INSTRUCTOR’S NAME Miss Puteri Noor Safura Binti
Megat Mahmud
DATE OF EXPERIMENT 14.8.2020
MEMBER 1 Muhamad Fahmi Afham bin M
Fuad(2020617404)
MEMBER 2 Aniq Iqbal bin Zulkarnain
(2020845742)
MARKS
COMMENT
ABSTRACT

On this experiment we’d discovered about Hooke’s Law. Hooke’s

Law defined that the force(F) needed to extend or compress a spring by
some distance(y) scales linearly with respect to the distance that is
F=ky, where k is a constant factor characteristics of spring and (y) is a
small compared to the total possible deformation of the spring.
To fulfilled the requirements what we did was we hung two
different spring constant(k) and measure its initial length. Then, we
hung different mass of load in an increasing order in mass and record
its final length with the loads on.
From the results, spring A had a smaller elongation of spring(y)
than spring B. This is because, spring A had a bigger spring constant(k)
than spring B. Thus, this results tell us that the elongation of spring(y)
increased linearly with the force applied to the spring.
INTRODUCTION

Hooke’s Law states that the force(F) applied to the spring is linear to
the spring elasticity(k) and elongation of spring(y). This forms a formula
that is F=ky. If the force exerted is vertically to a hanging spring the
length of spring changes with an amount (y) from its initial length:

F=ky
Where (k) is called the spring elasticity.
If the spring has a restoring force which helped the spring returns to its
original length. This relation is known as Hooke’s Law and given a
formula:

F=-ky
If there’s a difference in the applied force is given in the experiment ,
the spring would experience an elongation ( ∆ y ) that can be written in
the equation:

F=k∆ y
Spring has a natural length and is not exerting any force within the
mass. The springs stretched by an amount (y) and is pulling the springs
downward and the length (y) is increased, the force(F) increases
linearly. This relationship is known as “ Hooke’s Law”. In this
experiment, we measure the elastic properties of two spiral metal
springs with different spring elasticity(k). The force applied downwards
is increasing linearly to the elongation of spring(y). To find the applied
force(F), we used the formula:

F=mg
PROCEDURE
Figure 1.1

Firstly, what we did was set up the apparatus as shown in the figure 1.1
without hanging the scale pan and masses. Then, we measured the
length, ( y 0) of spring A without the scale pan and masses. Secondly, we
weigh the mass of scale pan and hooked It onto spring A. Then, we
measured the length of the spring with the scale pan hooked to the
spring. Thirdly, we added 25g mass that been weighed first and put it
onto the scale pan and measured the length of the spring with the mass
and scale pan hooked to the spring. We repeated step 3 with changing
the mass used with new masses which is 50g, 75g, 100g, 125g and
150g. After we finished measured all the length by hanging different
masses, we repeated the procedure from the beginning and got the
second reading. Thus, we calculated the average reading by getting
those two readings that we got earlier. Lastly, by using the same setup,
we repeated all the steps that we did earlier by changing spring A to
spring B with a different spring elasticity.
DATA AND RESULTS
Table 1.1
Mass, Total Force, Length of spring, Elongation
m mass(kg) mass(kg) F=mg y(m) of spring
(m pan + mmass ) Reading ∆ y (m)
(N)
- - - yn 1 2 Average ∆ y = y n− y o
reading
0.000 0.000 0.000 y0 0.080 0.082 0.0810 0.0000
0.000 0.005 0.049 y1 0.091 0.091 0.0910 0.0100
0.025 0.030 0.294 y2 0.100 0.100 0.1000 0.0190
0.050 0.055 0.539 y3 0.109 0.108 0.1085 0.0275
0.075 0.080 0.784 y4 0.116 0.116 0.1160 0.0350
0.100 0.105 1.029 y5 0.125 0.125 0.1250 0.0440
0.125 0.130 1.274 y6 0.133 0.134 0.1335 0.0525
0.150 0.155 1.519 y7 0.142 0.142 0.1420 0.0610

Table 1.2
Mass, Total Force, Length of Elongation of
m mass mass(kg F=mg spring,y(m) spring∆ y (m)
Reading
(kg) ) (N)
(m ¿ ¿ pan+ mmass )¿
- - - yn 1 2 Average ∆ y = y n− y o
reading
0.000 0.000 0.000 y0 0.086 0.086 0.0860 0.0000
0.000 0.005 0.049 y1 0.091 0.091 0.0910 0.0050
0.025 0.030 0.294 y2 0.115 0.114 0.1145 0.0285
0.050 0.055 0.539 y3 0.139 0.139 0.1390 0.0530
0.075 0.080 0.784 y4 0.163 0.164 0.1635 0.0775
0.100 0.105 1.029 y5 0.188 0.188 0.1880 0.1020
0.125 0.130 1.274 y6 0.212 0.212 0.2120 0.1260
0.150 0.155 1.519 y7 0.237 0.236 0.2365 0.1505
GRAPHS

Elongation of spring A Elongation of spring B Force (N)

(m) (m)
0.0000 0.0000 0.000
0.0100 0.0050 0.049
0.0190 0.0285 0.294
0.0275 0.0530 0.539
0.0350 0.0775 0.784
0.0440 0.1020 1.029
0.0525 0.1260 1.274
0.0610 0.1505 1.519

HOOKE'S LAW
0.16

0.14

0.12

0.1
Force (N)

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6

Elongation of spring, ∆y (m)

Spring A Spring B
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

1. Elongation of spring
∆ y = y n− y o
∆ y = y 5− y 0
∆ y =¿0.125m-0.081m=0.044m

2. Total mass
m pan + mmass
0.025 kg+ 0.005 kg=0.030 kg

3. Average reading
0.080+0.082
Spring A: = 0.081m
2
0.086+0.086
Spring B: = 0.086m
2

4. Force
F=mg
F=( 0.005)(9.8)
F=0.049 N

5. Spring constant
F=k ∆ y
0.049=k (0.0025)
k =19.6 N /m
DISCUSSION
In the experiment, we hung the spring and measured the initial
length before hang mass. Then take the mass of scale pan using
weighing scale and hang to the spring. After that, we hung 25g of load
to scale pan until the spring came to rest position. Then we recorded
the length of spring. Then we change the load to 0.05kg, 0.075kg,
0.100kg, 0.125kg, 0.150kg to determined the Hooke’s Law formula (F=-
kx) where k is a spring constant. For spring A, the length of the spring
without scale pan and mass is 0.081m. Then, we attached 0.025kg,
0.05kg, 0.075kg, 0.100kg, 0.125kg, 0.150kg of load and the spring
extended to a length of 0.010m, 0.109m, 0.116m, 0.125m, 0.133m,
0.142m. Next, we repeated step second time to get the second reading
using the same load to get the average reading. By using Hooke’s Law
formula, F=-kx we can determined this spring constant. So spring
constant for spring A is 9.8N/m and for spring B is 19.6N/m. So spring B
is less elastic than spring A. This is shown that spring B has a spring
constant greater than spring A.
Draw and plot the graph by using the data from table 1.1(Spring A)
and table 1.2(Spring B). By using Hooke’s Law formula F=-kx we can
prove that spring constant for both data is a bit different by referring to
the slope of the graph. This is because different load or the force
applied to the spring. Both of these graph obeys the Hooke’s Law so the
graph trend is directly proportional and best fit line.
There is a slight parallax error occurred during the experiment that
make our reading inaccurate. To overcome this problem, we must place
our eyes at the level of measuring scale. There is also a precaution that
we must take note that is we must make sure that the spring is hung
firmly to the clamp. This is because to prevent the spring fall during the
experiment.
CONCLUSION
From this experiment, we can verify that Hooke’s Law determine the
value of the spring elasticity, k. In addition, by referring the graph, the
Force, N is proportional to the elongation of the spring,y. Lastly, we
must follow the precaution steps to avoid doing errors that could effect
the graph.

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
Answer the following questions and submit your group’s
answer to the instructor. 
1. When you apply a 52 N force, a spring extends 13 cm. Assume the
spring obeys Hooke’s Law. What is the spring constant (in N/m) for this
spring? 

F=kx
52=k(0.13)
K=400N/m

2. As above, when you apply a 52 N force, a spring extends by 13 cm.

How much energy was required to stretch the spring assuming you
started from its unstretched length? How much energy (in Joules) must
you use to stretch is another 13 cm (from 13 cm to 26 cm)? 

W=12kx2
K=400N/m
X=0.13m
=12(400)(0.13)2
=3.38J

From 13 to 26
12(400)(0.26)2-3.38=10.14J

3. Suppose you have a mass m attached to a spring with constant k. The

mass rests on a horizontal frictionless surface. Its equilibrium position is
at x = 0. It is pulled aside a distance A and released. What is the speed
of the mass as it passes the position x = A/2 (in terms of k, m, and A)?
(Hint: Use conservation of energy) 

1 2 1 2 1 2 1
2
mv + 2
kx = 2
mv + 2 kx2

0+ 1 2 1
2 1 2
2 A k= 2 mv + 8 A k
3 2 1 2
8
A k= 2
mv
2
v2= 68Amk

6 A2k
v=
√ 8m
POST-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Spring B used in this experiment obeys Hooke’s law, determine the
value of elongation, y of a spring if a total mass of 0.5 kg is attached to
it? Show your calculation.

F=mg
F=0.5(9.8)
F=4.9N

F=-ky
4.9N=-(19.6)y
y=-0.25m

2. Spring C consists of spring A and spring B that connected in series.

Calculate the elongation of spring C if a 30 g mass was supported from
the spring.

F=mg
F=0.03(9.8)
F=0.294N

Spring A, F=ky
0.294=(9.8)y
y=0.03m

Spring B, F=ky
0.294=(19.6)y
Y=0.015m

Elongation of Spring C=0.03+0.015

=0.045m