ATP WORKSHEET - Spring constant www.igexams.

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1 A student is investigating the stretching of a spring.

The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1.1.

clamp

spring
l0

Fig. 1.1

(a) On Fig. 1.1, measure the unstretched length l 0 of the spring. Record l 0 in the first row of
Table 1.1. [1]

(b) The student hangs a load L of 1.0 N on the spring and measures the new length l of the spring.
She repeats the measurements using loads of 2.0 N, 3.0 N, 4.0 N and 5.0 N. The readings are
shown in Table 1.1.

(i) For each set of readings, calculate the extension e of the spring using the equation
e = (l – l 0). Record the values of e in the table.

Table 1.1

L/N l / mm e / mm

0.0 0

1.0 59

2.0 64

3.0 69

4.0 74

5.0 78
[1]

(ii) Explain briefly one precaution that you would take in order to obtain reliable readings.

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(c) Plot a graph of e / mm (y-axis) against L / N (x-axis).

[4]

(d) The student removes the load from the spring and hangs an unknown load X on the spring.
She measures the length l of the spring.

72 mm
l = ...............................................................

(i) Calculate the extension e of the spring.

e = .......................................................... [1]

(ii) Use the graph to determine the weight W of the load X. Show clearly on the graph how
you obtained the necessary information.

W = .......................................................... [2]

[Total: 10]
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2 The class is investigating the behaviour of a spring, and then using the spring to determine the
weight of an object.

The apparatus is shown in Fig. 2.1.

clamp

spring
l

load

Fig. 2.1

(a) A load of weight L = 1.0 N is hung on the spring. The stretched length l of the spring, as
indicated in Fig. 2.1, is recorded in Table 2.1.

Suggest a precaution that you would take when measuring the length of the spring, to ensure
a reliable reading. You may draw a diagram.

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(b) Step (a) is repeated for values of L = 2.0 N, 3.0 N, 4.0 N and 5.0 N. The readings are shown in
Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

L/N l / cm

1.0 6.1
2.0 9.0
3.0 13.4
4.0 16.8
5.0 21.0

Plot a graph of l /cm (y-axis) against L / N (x-axis).

0
0
[4]

(c) Use your graph to determine the length l 0 of the spring with no load attached.

l 0 = ...........................................................[1]
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object

Fig. 2.2

(d) The loads are removed and an object is suspended from the spring, as shown in Fig. 2.2.

(i) On Fig. 2.2, measure the stretched length l of the spring.

l = ...........................................................[1]

(ii) Use the graph, and your reading from (d)(i), to determine the weight W of the object.
Show clearly on the graph how you obtained your answer.

W = ............................................................ N
[2]

(e) A student measures the weight of a different load using this same method. He gives the
weight as 2.564 N.

Explain why this is not a suitable number of significant figures for this experiment.

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[Total: 10]
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3 The IGCSE class is investigating the motion of a mass hanging on a spring.

Fig. 1.1 shows the apparatus

clamp holding spring

l0 spring

clamp holding
cork

pin in cork

bench

Fig. 1.1

(a) On Fig. 1.1, measure the length l 0 of the unstretched spring, in mm.

l 0 = ........................................ mm [1]

(b) The diagram is drawn one tenth of actual size. Write down the actual length L0 of the
unstretched spring, in mm.

L0 = ......................................... mm [1]

A student hangs a 300 g mass on the spring and measures the new length L of the spring.

255 mm
L = ....................................................

(i) Calculate the extension e of the spring using the equation e = (L – L0 ).

e = .............................................. mm
F
(ii) Calculate a value for the spring constant k using the equation k = , where F = 3.0 N.
e
Include the appropriate unit.

k = ....................................................
[2]
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(c) The student adjusts the position of the lower clamp so that the pin is level with the bottom
of the mass when the mass is not moving. She pulls the mass down a short distance and
releases it so that it oscillates up and down. Fig. 1.2 shows one complete oscillation.

position of pin
highest position of mass

position of mass when one complete oscillation

lowest position of mass

Fig. 1.2

She measures the time t taken for 20 complete oscillations.

Calculate the time T taken for one complete oscillation.

T = ............................................... [1]

(d) She replaces the 300 g mass with a 500 g mass. She repeats the timing as described in part
(c).
34.48 s
t = ....................................................

(i) Calculate the time T taken for one complete oscillation.

T = ....................................................

(ii) The student suggests that the time taken for the oscillations of the spring should not be
affected by the change in mass.

State whether her results support this suggestion and justify your answer by reference to
the results.

statement ..........................................................................................................................

justification ........................................................................................................................

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[2]
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(e) Explain briefly how you avoid a line-of-sight (parallax) error when measuring the length of a
spring in this type of experiment. You may draw a diagram.

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[Total: 8]