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Experiment 4

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37 views

Experiment 4

Uploaded by

Majdy gaming
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EXPERIMENT 4: SPRING CONSTANT

1. Introduction
An easy device to use in thinking about vibration is a spring (such as the one used to
pull a storm door shut, or an automobile spring) with one end attached to a fixed object and a
mass attached to the other end.
The stiffness in a spring can be related more directly to material and geometric
properties of the spring. This section introduces the relationships between stiffness, elastic
modulus, and geometry of various types of springs and illustrates various situations that can
lead to simple harmonic motion.
2. Objectives
To find the force constant of a helical spring by static and dynamic method.
3. System Description
The spring-mass system in Figure 6-1 shows an extension linear helical spring with an
initial free length Li, effective mass mS, supported vertically from one of its ends; while the
other end is free to elongate and attached to a load-carrier of mass. The free length of the
spring loaded with the load carrier alone is Lo. Disks each of mass are added to the carrier
gradually, and each loading state causes the spring to elongate by the distance δ from its
unloaded length Lo to get a total length of L.

Figure (4-1): General layout of the experiment set-up


4. Theory
4.1. Static Method
Consider a spring hanging from a rigid support. When a load m is suspended from the free
end of the spring, an external, Fext , acts on the spring in the downward direction. The support
applies an equal force in the upward direction. Thus, the spring has a balanced system of
forces acting on it and it is in equilibrium. The length of the spring increases and an internal
(restoring) force Fint is developed in the spring due to the elasticity of the spring. This internal
force tends to bring the spring back to its original length when the external forces are
withdrawn.
When a load F suspended from lower free end of a spring hanging from a rigid support, it
increases its length by amount x,
then F ⍺ x  F= k x =gm (1)
(2)

where k is constant of proportionality. It is called the force constant or the spring constant of
the spring.

Figure (4-2): spring hanging from a rigid support

4.1.1.Experimental Procedures
I. Suspend the spring from a rigid support. Attach a pointer and a hook from free end.
II. Hang a 20 g hanger from the hook.
III. Set the vertical wooden scale such that the tip of the pointer comes over the scale. Note
the reading of the position of the tip of the pointer on the scale. Record the reading in
loading column against zero load.
IV. Gently add a 20 g slotted weight to the hanger. The pointer tip moves down.
V. Wait for few minutes till the pointer tip comes to rest. Repeat step 4.
VI. Repeat steps 5 and 6 till five slotted weights have been added.
VII. Now remove one slotted weight. The pointer tip moves up. Repeat step 6. Record the
reading in unloading column.
VIII. Repeat step 8 till only hanger is left.
IX. Record your observations as given below.

4.1.2.Precautions
 Loading and unloading of weight must be done gently.
 Reading should be noted only when tip of pointer comes to rest.
 Pointer tip should not touch the scale surface.
 Loading should not be beyond elastic limit.

4.1.3.Experimental Results
Least count of vertical scale = 0.1 cm
Extension (cm)
Mean
Mass (kg) When Increase the When Decrease the
Displacement (cm)
load load

Table (4-1): Collected data (load and extension)

4.2. Dynamic Method


Spring constant (or force constant) of a spring is given by Spring constant,

K=

Thus, spring constant is the restoring force per unit extension in the spring. Its value is
determined by the elastic properties of the spring. A given object is attached to the free end of
a spring which is suspended from a rigid point support (a nail, fixed to a wall). If the object is
pulled down and then released, it executes simple harmonic oscillations.
The time period (T) of oscillations of a helical spring of spring constant K is given by
the relation:
T= 2π √ ,then (3)

(4)

where m is the load that is the mass of the object.


4.2.1.Experimental Procedures
I. Suspend the helical spring SA (having pointer P and the hanger H at its free end A),
from a rigid support.
II. Set the measuring scale, close to the spring vertically. Take care that the pointer P
moves freely over the scale without touching it.
III. Find out the least count of the measuring scale (It is usually 1mm or 0.1 cm).
IV. Familiarize yourself with the working of the stop-watch and find its least count.
V. Suspend the load or slotted weight with mass m1 on the hanger gently. Wait till the
pointer comes to rest. This is the equilibrium position for the given load. Pull the load
slightly downwards and then release it gently so that it is set into oscillations in a
vertical plane about its rest (or equilibrium) position. The rest position (x) of the
pointer P on the scale is the reference or mean position for the given load. Start the
stop-watch as the pointer P just crosses its mean position (say, from upwards to
downwards) and simultaneously begin to count the oscillations.
VI. Keep on counting the oscillations as the pointer crosses the mean position (x) in the
same direction. Stop the watch after n (say, 5 to 10) oscillations are complete. Note the
time (t) taken by the oscillating load for n oscillations.
VII. Repeat this observation alteast thrice and on each occasion note the time taken for the
same number (n) of oscillations. Find the mean time (t1), for n oscillations and compute
the time for one oscillation, i.e., the time period τ1 (= T1/n) of oscillating helical spring
with a load m1.
VIII. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for two more slotted weights.
IX. Calculate time period of oscillation for each weight and tabulate your
observations.
X. Compute the value of spring constant (K1, K2, K3) for each load and find out the mean
value of spring constant K of the given helical spring.
XI. The value of K can also be determined by plotting a graph of τ2 (sec2) vs m(Kg).τ2 on
y-axis and m on x-axis.
4.2.2.Experimental Results

Time of 10 oscillation (s)


Load(g)
T1 T2 T3 Mean T
τ=T/10 τ2

Table (4-2): Data processing (load and time)

 For a helical spring, the stiffness is expressed analytically as


K: Spring Constant (N/m)
G: Shear Modulus (N/m2)
d: Wire Diameter (m)
N: Number Of Active Coils (-)
D: Spring Diameter (m)
Report
1) Complete data in Table (4-1)&(4-2).
2) Plot relationship between X(cm) versus m(kg).
3) Plot relationship between τ2 versus m(g).
4) Determine the spring constant of a spring by:
a. static method
b. dynamic method
5) If spring constant in dynamic method is 50N/m. Determine the percentage
error.
6) The spring system shown in Fig(4-3) has the following spring
constants:K1=5 KN/m,K2=4 KN/m,K3=6 KN/m,K4=3 KN/m & K5=8 N/mm.
If the load of the springs is 3 kg. Determine
a. The equivalent spring constant.
b. The total elongation of the springs.
c. The natural frequency.

Figure(4-3): springs in series-parallel.

7) The suspension system of a car with a series-spring arrangement. Find the


equivalent spring constant of the suspension (in N/km unit).If each of the
two helical springs is made of steel with a shear modulus G=800N/mm2 and
has seven effective turns N=7, mean coil diameter D=30cm and wire
diameter d=3cm. (show your calculation)

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