REYES, Giselle S.

2004-00548
Group 3
Activity 2: Error Analysis (Spring Constant)
Methodology
Set up the equipment by attaching one spring to the iron stand. Measure the mass
of the object by using the weighing scale and the length of the spring using the
ruler. Attach the object to the end of the spring. Measure the displacement of the
last coil of the spring. List down all the data. Compute for the weight using F=mg.
Attach another spring to the end of the first spring. Put the mass and determine
again the displacement of the last coil of the spring. Detach the second spring and
place it on the iron stand, parallel to the first spring. Hook the mass to the two
springs and determine the displacement of the spring. Compute the spring constant
using Hookes law. Lastly, determine all uncertainty of the measured data.
Data Summary
Spring A
Spring B
Without
With mass With mass
Without
mass
mass
6 cm
10.8
6.3
cm cm
9.8 cm
6.4
cm
9.8 cm
6 cm
11 cm
6.3
cm cm
9.9 cm
5.8 cm
10.9
PARALLEL
SERIES
Spring
Spring
Spring
Spring
Spring
Spring
Spring
Spring
A
B
A (with B (with
A
B (withou
A (with (witho
B (with mass)
mass)
(withou (witho t mass)
mass)
mass)
ut
t mass)
ut
mass)
mass) 6 cm
6.3 cm 7.9 cm 7.9 cm
7.4 cm 6.3 cm 612.1
9.6
cm 8.0 cm 7.8 cm
cm
6.4
cm
cm
5.8 cm 6.3 cm 8.1 cm 7.9 cm
7.3
cm
6.4
cm
12.1
9.9 cm
Mass = 99.5
cm
cm
0.0001
7.3
6.3gcm 12.1
9.9 cm
cm
Sample Computations
Spring A length: 5.9 0.1 cm

= (0.0995 kg

Spring B length: 6.3 0.1 cm

0.975 kg m/s2

0.1 g

0.09995 g

0.0001 kg)(9.8 m/s2) =

Least Count = 1mm

2=5

W = mg
Individual k(spring constant) For spring A:

XA = (11 cm

k1 = (0.975 kg m/s2

0.1 cm) (5.9 cm

0.0001)

0.1 cm)

(0.051 m

= 0.051 m

10-3)

10-3cm

10-4

= 19.1 kg/s2

0.19 kg/s2

l = l < l> 100

m = m < m> 100

= (5 10-4 m 0.051 m) 100%

= (0.0001 0.975) 100%

=0.98%

= 0.010%

k = m + l

= 0.99
kg/s

k1

k1 x

k > 100

= (0.99%)(19.1 k/s2) 100= 0.19

For spring B:
k2 = (0.975 kg m/s2

= 27.8 kg/s2

0.0001)

(0.035 m

10-3)

0.19 kg/s2

SERIES:

XA = (12.1 cm) (7.3 cm

k1 = (0.975 kg m/s2
= 20.4 kg/s2

0.1 cm)

0.0001)

= 4.8x10-2 m

(4.8x10-2 m

10-3m

10-3m)

4.5 kg/s2

l = l < l> 100

m = m < m> 100

= (1 10-3 m 4.8x10-2 m) 100%

= (0.0001 0.975)

=2.1%

k = m + l

= 2.11%

1.4 kg/s2

Kef = 1/k1 + 1/k2

2.5 kg/s2) + 1/(28

= [(20.4

2.5 kg/s2) + (28

= (570

3.9)/(48.4

= 11.8

7.8 kg/s2

1.4 kg/s2)
1.4 kg/s2)]/(570

3.9)

3.9 kg/s2)

PARALLEL:
k1 = 48.8

4.9 kg/s2
Kef = k1 + k2

k2 = 60.9

k1

k1 x

k > 100

= (2.11%)(20.4 kg/s2) 100= 4.5

kg/s2
k2 = 28

= .01%

7.6kg/s2

= 48.8
kg/s2

4.9 kg/s2 + 60.9

7.6

= 110

12.5 kg/s2

Analysis
Based from the results of the spring constants obtained from individual springs,
Spring B has a greater spring constant than Spring A which means that the greater
force (weight) applied to the spring, the greater is the stretch of the spring. It
doesnt negate the Hookes law which states that the extension of the spring is
directly proportional to the applied force. The springs in series set up showed that
one spring is stretched more than the other. This spring has smaller value of spring
constant. For the springs in parallel, it showed that each of the spring stretched due
to the weight applied on both. Thus, the spring constant is the sum of the individual
k of the springs. As for the results of the spring constant in the series and parallel
set up, it is evident that a greater spring constant is produced when springs are in
parallel. This simply means that it requires a greater spring constant to match the
applied force to the spring. In this activity, the systematic errors occurred during the
measurement of the springs stretch. Also the movement of the spring while it
hangs on the iron stand might have afected the measurement. It may also be
possible that the condition of each spring afects its oscillation. The activity may be
analyzed further if only more loads with varying mass were given. With this, it will
be easier to analyze how the weight afects the stretch of the spring.