Hooke’s Law Investigation

Aim: To investigate how the force applied to a spring affects the extension of the spring.
1. Identify the variables in your investigation.


2. Set up your equipment as shown on the method sheet.

3. Measure the length of your spring and record this in the space below.
The start length of the spring is cm.
4. Carry out your investigation using the method sheet. Record the extension of the spring in
the table below.
5. Calculate the mean extension for each force applied to the spring.

Extension (cm)
Force (N)
Repeat 1 Repeat 2 Repeat 3 Mean

6. Compare the mean extension for 1N and 2N, then compare the mean extension for 2N and
4N.
Describe what you notice about the extension each time the force is doubled.


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 Hooke’s Law Investigation

7. Draw a graph of your results on graph paper.

We can use Hooke’s Law to calculate the spring constant for the spring.
force = spring constant × extension
8. Rearrange the equation to make the spring constant the subject.


9. To calculate the spring constant in N/m, we need to convert our measurements from cm to
metres. Write the extension for each force in metres in the table below.
10. Calculate the spring constant for each of your results and record in the table below.

Force (N) Mean Extension (m) Spring Constant (N/m)

11. Calculate the mean spring constant.



The spring constant of the spring is N/m.

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Hooke’s Law Investigation Answers
Aim: To investigate how the force applied to a spring affects the extension of the spring.
1. Identify the variables in your investigation.
The independent variable is the force applied to the spring.
The dependent variable is the extension of the spring.
The control variables are:
- use the same spring each time;
- completely unload spring and check it has not been extended beyond its elastic
limit;
- make sure the spring is stationary before measuring;
- read the measurement from the same angle;
- measure the same part of the spring each time.

2. Set up your equipment as shown on the method sheet.

3. Measure the length of your spring and record this in the space below.
The start length of the spring is cm.
(This measurement will depend on the spring used.)
4. Carry out your investigation using the method sheet. Record the extension of the spring in
the table below.
5. Calculate the mean extension for each force applied to the spring.

Extension (cm)
Force (N)
Repeat 1 Repeat 2 Repeat 3 Mean

6. Compare the mean extension for 1N and 2N, then compare the mean extension for 2N and
4N.
Describe what you notice about the extension each time the force is doubled.
When the force is doubled, the extension of the spring also doubles.
The extension is directly proportional to the force applied to the spring.
 Hooke’s Law Investigation Answers

7. Draw a graph of your results on graph paper.

We can use Hooke’s Law to calculate the spring constant for the spring.
force = spring constant × extension
8. Rearrange the equation to make the spring constant the subject.
force
spring constant =
extension

9. To calculate the spring constant in N/m, we need to convert our measurements from cm to
metres. Write the extension for each force in metres in the table below.
10. Calculate the spring constant for each of your results and record in the table below.

Force (N) Mean Extension (m) Spring Constant (N/m)

11. Calculate the mean spring constant.



The spring constant of the spring is N/m.

(The answers given here will depend on the student’s results.)