Experiment-6

Objective: Find the value of spring constant (K) of a spiral spring using dynamical method.
Apparatus: Spiral Spring, Weight, Stop-watch, Stand
Theory: If the spring is made to oscillate by pulling the weight applied to it downward, it executes
a “simple harmonic motion” following the Hook’s Law. The time period (T) of the oscillation of
the spring is given by

𝑀
𝑇 = 2𝜋 √
𝐾

Where, k is a proportionality constant and is known as the spring constant. M is the combined
𝟏
mass, i.e., 𝑴 = 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 + 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. Thus the spring constant
𝟑

(K) can be obtained by using the following relation

𝑴
𝑲 = 𝟒𝝅𝟐
𝑻𝟐
Procedure:
Attach the mass to the lower end of the spring. Measure the mass of the spring using a digital
balance. Account the total mass of the system. By displacing the spring from equilibrium, the
system will oscillate. Determine its period of oscillation using stop watch. Determine the value of
spring constant (K) using the above equation, and by drawing the graph between the mass (M) and
T2.
Observation:
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 30 𝑔𝑚
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = = = 10 𝑔𝑚 = 0.01 𝑘𝑔
3 3
Mass added Mass of the Time of 10 Time period Spring Constant
T2
to the spring System (M) oscillation (T=T10/10) 𝑀
(in s2) 𝐾 = 4𝜋 2 2
(in Kg) (in Kg) (T10) (in s) 𝑇
0.05 0.06 3.4 0.34 0.116 20.42

0.10 0.11 4.4 0.44 0.194 22.36

0.15 0.16 5.1 0.51 0.260 24.26

0.20 0.21 5.7 0.57 0.325 25.51

0.25 0.26 6.5 0.65 0.423 24.27

Prepared by: Dr. M. M. Abdullah, Department of Physics, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia Page 1
Calculation:
1. By formula:
𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙 "𝐾"
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 (𝐾) =
5

20.42 + 22.36 + 24.26 + 25.51 + 24.27

𝐾=
5

𝑲 = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟐𝟏 𝑵/𝒎

2. By Graph:

0.30

Equation y = a + b*x
Plot B
0.25 Weight No Weighting
Intercept -0.0159 ± 0.00829
Slope 0.66731 ± 0.0291
Residual Sum of Square 1.42733E-4
Pearson's r 0.99714
0.20 R-Square (COD) 0.99429
Mass (Kg)

Adj. R-Square 0.99239

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45

2 2
T in s

𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = 4𝜋 2 × 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 4 × (3.14)2 × 0.67

𝑲 = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟒𝟐 𝑵/𝒎

Result: The average value of the spring constant (K) of a given spiral spring using formula and

graph is 24.21 N/m and 26.42 N/m, respectively.

Precautions: Do not load the spring beyond the elastic limit. Loading and unloading of weight
should be done gradually. Oscillation of the system should be smooth.

Prepared by: Dr. M. M. Abdullah, Department of Physics, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia Page 2