Hooke’s Law

Date: 9/14/2021
Title: Hooke’s Law Lab
Aim: To investigate the relationship between extension and force for a spring
Apparatus/Materials: Weight, Clamps, Heavy Object, spring, Clamp Stand, Ruler, Weight
Stack, Splint
Diagrams:

Procedure:
1. The apparatus was set up as in the diagram. It was made sure that:
 The ruler was vertical
 The zero on the scale and the top of the spring were at the same height
 The splint was attached to the bottom of the spring horizontally resting against the ruler
scale
2. The table was open to record the results. The fist reading was taken which was the length
of the unstretched spring. The weight stack was then attached to the bottom of the spring
by its hook. The weight stack was one Newton. Another reading was taken, which was
the length of the spring when a force of 1N is applied
3. Further weights were added. The total weight applied and the length of the spring was
measured and recorded each time
4. The extension for each weight was calculated and recorded in the table
Results/Observations:
Table showing the Force, Length and Extension of the Spring

Calculations
Extension for 0N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length
= 12.0cm-12.0cm
= 0cm

Extension for 1N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 12.5cm-12.0cm
= 0.5cm

Extension for 2N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 13.0cm-12.0cm
 = 1.0cm
Extension for 3N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length
= 13.5cm-12.0cm
= 1.5cm

Extension for 4N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 14.0cm-12.0cm
= 2.0cm

Extension for 5N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 14.5cm-12.0cm
= 2.5cm

Extension for 6N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 15.0cm-12.0cm
= 3.0cm

Extension for 7N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 15.5cm-12.0cm
= 3.5cm

Extension for 8N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 16.0cm-12.0cm
= 4.0cm

Extension for 9N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length

= 16.5cm-12.0cm
= 4.5cm
Extension for 10N= Stretched Length- Unstretched Length
= 17.0cm-12.0cm
= 5.0cm

Discussion:
Hooke’s Law states that the force applied to a spring is proportional to its extension. The
extension of the spring can be calculated by subtracting the unstretched length from the stretched
length of the spring.
Conclusion:
According to the results gathered it can be concluded that the greater the force applied to a spring
the greater it will extend. In other words, the force applied to a spring is proportional to its
extension.