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Spring Balance Report 2

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61 views

Spring Balance Report 2

Uploaded by

abenapapabiplange
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Haruna Saadu

ID: 01212644D
Class: SLT 2A
CONSTRUCTION OF A SPRING BALANCE
Introduction
A spring balance is a simple device used to measure force
or weight. It consists of a spring attached to a rigid
support at one end and a weighted hook at the other end.
As force is applied to the hook, the spring extends a
certain distance depending on the strength of the force.
The force can be determined by measuring the extension
of the spring.
Some key properties and parts of a spring balance include:

•Spring: The balance uses a coil spring, usually made of


spring steel. The spring must be elastic so it returns to its
original shape once the force is removed. The spring
constant determines how much the spring extends under
a given force.
•Hook: A hook or other attachment point is connected to
the end of the spring to allow weights or other objects to
be hung from the balance.

•Scale: A scale, usually inscribed on a metal plate, is


positioned parallel to the spring. As the spring extends,
the position of the hook on the scale indicates the force
applied. Metric units such as newtons or grams are
commonly used.

•Frame: A sturdy metal frame is used to attach the top of


the spring to a stand while allowing movement at the
bottom.

•Base: A heavy base, such as a ring stand, is used to


support the frame and keep the entire balance stationary.

•Equilibrium point: The point at which the spring force


equals the applied force, so the spring remains at a fixed
length. This equilibrium point determines the reading on
the scale.
The balance relies on Hooke's law which states that the
extension of an elastic spring is directly proportional to
the applied force. Doubling the force doubles the
extension. Simple spring balances provide a rough
measurement of force and are good for demonstrations
or experiments where precision is not important. Precise
balances require calibrating the scale to account for
inherent variability in springs.

A spring balance is a very useful teaching tool for


demonstrating basic concepts related to forces, elasticity,
and the workings of levers. With some refinements, spring
balances have also been used commercially to weigh
objects. A spring balance works on the simple principle
that the extension of an elastic spring can be used to
determine an unknown force using Hooke's law. With
calibration, even a basic balance can provide a useful
measurement of weight and force.
Aim: To construct a simple spring balance to measure
forces.

Apparatus
Coil spring, Hook, PVC Pipe, Masses: 100 g, 200 g, 300 g ,
String, and Marker

Procedure

Attach a hook to one end of the coil spring. Attach the


other end of the spring to the ring stand or nail. Ensure
the spring hangs freely and vertically. Mark the position of
the bottom of the spring on the pipe. This is the zero
point. Attach the 100 g mass to the hook at the bottom of
the spring. Mark the new position of the bottom of the
spring on the pipe.. Record the difference from the zero
point. Repeat step 3 with the 200 g and 300 g masses,
marking and recording the new lengths each time.
Connect the marks on the ruler to show the extension of
the spring with each added mass. Extrapolate the graph to
estimate the mass required to extend the spring by a
given length.

IMAGES OF THE CONSTRUCTED SPRING BALANCE

Results:
The results are summarized in the table below:

Mass (g) Spring extension (cm)


0 (zero point) 0
100 1
200 2
300 3

Discussion
The spring followed Hooke's law in that the extension
was directly proportional to the applied force (mass).
The spring constant can be determined from the
relationship between force and extension. The
extrapolated graph can be used to predict the mass
needed for a desired extension, demonstrating its
usefulness as a simple weighing device.

Conclusion
A simple spring balance was constructed using a coil
spring and ruler. It was calibrated with known masses
to show direct proportionality between applied force
and extension. The spring balance can be used to
measure unknown forces by measuring the extension
of the spring. This demonstrates how a basic spring
balance works based on the elastic properties of
springs.
Reference

➢The Merck Index; Twelfth Ed.; Merck and Co, Inc.:


Whitehouse Station, NJ, 1996.

➢Schneider, R.F. Synthesis of Aspirin (accessed June


2007).

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