NAME: _____________ EXPERIMENT - 5

DATE: 10/12/2023 CLASS: XI

PHYSICS

Aim

To nd the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension.

Apparatus/ Materials Required

L
OO
• A rigid support
• Spring
• A 10 g or 20 g hanger

CH
• Six 10 g or 20 g slotted weight
• A ne pointer

S
• A vertical wooden scale

AL
• A hook
Diagram

I ON
AT
RN
TE
IN
M
TA
OT

Theory
RV

When a load F suspended from the lower free end of the spring hanging from rigid support increases its length
SA

by l, then

Where K is the proportionality constant

K, the proportionality constant, is also known as the force constant or the spring constant of the spring

From the above equation, it is clear that if l =1, F = K.

Sarvo am Interna onal School/2023-24 Page-1
fi
fi
tt
ti
 Hence, spring constant can be de ned as the force required to produce a unit extension in the spring.

Procedure

1. Suspend the spring from a rigid support and attach the pointer and the hook from its lower free end.
2. Hang a 10 g hanger from the hook
3. Arrange the vertical wooden scale such that the tip of the pointer comes over the divisions on the scale
but does not touch the scale.
4. Note the reading on the scale and record it in the loading column against the zero loads.

L
5. Gently add a suitable load of 10 g or 20 g of slotted weight to the hanger. The tip of the pointer moves

OO
down.
6. Wait for some time till the pointer comes to rest. Repeat step 4.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 till six slots have been added.

CH
8. Remove one slotted weight. The pointer moves up. Repeat step 6 and record the reading in the
unloading column.

S
9. Repeat step 8 till the only hanger is left.

AL
10. Record your observation as given below in the table.
Observations

ON
The least count of vernier scale is 0.1 cm.

Observation Table for extension and load

I
AT
RN

Load on Reading of position of pointer tip Extension K

Serial hanger(W) =
No. of Applied force
Loading Unloading Mean = x+y/2
TE

obs. (F) L(cm) (gwt/cm)

x(cm) your(cm) =L
(gwt)
IN
M
TA
OT
RV
SA

Mean k =

Graph : From this given data, the spring constant can be calculated as follows:

Spring constant, k from load extension graph

Sarvo am Interna onal School/2023-24 Page-2

tt
ti
fi
 L
OO
CH
AB=---------g wt
BC=---------cm
Slope = 1/k

S
AL
= ---------gwt/cm

ON
Result

By calculation, the force constant of the given spring = .............

I
From load-extension graph, the force constant of the given spring =………Result
AT
PRECAUTIONS
RN

1. The spring should be suspended from a rigid support and it should hang freely so that it remains vertical.
TE

2. Slotted weights should be chosen according to elastic limit of the spring.

3. After adding or removing the slotted weight on the hanger, wait for sometime before noting the position of
IN

the pointer on the scale because the spring takes time to attain equilibrium position.
M

SOURCES OF ERROR
TA

1. If support is not perfectly rigid, some error may creep in due to the yielding of the support.
OT

2. The slotted weights may not be standard weights.

RV
SA

Sarvo am Interna onal School/2023-24 Page-3

tt
ti