5

SPRING CONSTANT
Aim
i To determine the
spring constant of a helical spring
il To calculate the mass of a body
by measuring the extension
Apparatus
Elastic spring, weight hanger, slotted
weights and the body to be
weighed
Principle
When a load Wis suspended from the free end of a spring, the
increase in length /l due to its weight is directly proportional to the
weight W.
WA=kwhere k is a constant
This constant is called the spring constant.
Procedure
The spring is suspended from a rigid support and is kept taut by
adding a weight hanger at the lower end. A pointer attached to the
lower end ofthespring can move near a scale graduated in millimeters.
The initial reading ofthe pointer is noted. 50 gm weights are added one
The weights
by one. In each case, the reading of the pointer is noted.
are then removed one by one and the readings are recorded again.
This is continued until the dead weight is reached.
 Practical Physics
28

Spring Scale
Stand
Pointer
Slotted
Weights

Figure 10

The average reading for each load is calculated. If d, andd

are the readings corresponding to the dead laod and a load M, the
extension e for the load Mis (d-d, ). The value ofload/extension
is calculated in each case. It is found to be a constant{k). The mean
value of load/extension is evaluated. If load is expressed in gram
and extension in mm, the value of k is expressed in gram/mm.
The body whose weight is to be determined is suspended on
the hanger and the extension x is determined. Then the weight or

the body
W kx
Here k is the average value of (load/extension).
Result
Spring constant k .gm/mm

Mass of the given body gram

kg
 29

Tabulation

Reading for the dead load ( d,)

No. Load Reading of the pointer when load Mean Extension Load
(gm) Increasing Decreasing (a) e = (a-d) | Extension

Mean (load/extension) k

Extension forthe mass (x)=..

kx kg
..

Mass of the body

 4
SIMPLE PENDULUM

Aim
. To determine the acceleration due to gravity g
from the (1,7" )graph
2. To determine the length of seconds pendulum

Apparatus
clock and meter
Simple pendulum, stop
Scale

Principle
The simple pendulum consists of a heavy
metal S'suspended by a light inextensible
sphere
string. The upper end of the string passes through
the split halves of a rubber stopper suitably
clamped. The length/of the pendulum is the dis-
tance between the centre of the bob and the point
of the string corresponding to the lower surface
of the stopper. The radius of the sphere is deter
mined by measuring the diameter of it by a ver-
nier calipers. The length ofthe string from the lower S
Surface of the stopper to the top of the sphere is
measured with a meter scale. This length plus the
radius ofthe sphere gives the length lof the pen-
dulum (Fig. 9). Figure 9
Practical Physic*
2A
The period Tof the pendulum is the time taken for
for one complet
oscillation. The relation between 7, / and acceleratOmple
gravity g is acceleration due to
T

Or g 4 Tt|
Procedure
The radiusrof the bob is measured
using cal1pers. The lengthlof
the pendulum is
equal to the distance from the point of
the top of the bob suspension ta
plus
the radius of the bob.
The length is
initially adjusted to be 50 cm. The time t for 30
consecutive oscillations is
is calculated as
determined usinga stop clock. The period T
T t/30
The experiment is
and I m. The mean value
repeated for l=0.60 m,0.70 m, 0.80m,0.90 m
of l/T2 is calculated.
The acceleration due to
gravity g is determined using the formula
g 4 T (1/T?)
Ifthe length is
measured in meter and T in
tion due to gravity is
g obtained in ms2.
second, the accelera
(1,T) graph
A graph is plotted
withl along the X-axis
This graph is called (,7* ) and T along the I-axis.
graph. It can be used to calculate the lengtr
 25

correspondi
ding to any period 7. It can be seen that the (1,T) graph is a

line. Fora scconds pendulum, 7=2 seconds and hence T is

straight

3u 44ss2 The length corresponding to 7=4s can be obtained

cqualto
This givessthe length ofseconds pendulum.
thegraph.
from

Result

1/T? ms
Mean value of

ms.
Acceleration due to gravityg

..m
Length of seconds pendulum
Practical Physics

Tabulations
m
Radius of the bob r

No. Length/ Timet for Period T T?

lIT
30 oscillation (s) (s) (s) ms2

1 0.5

2 0.6

3 0.7

4 0.8

5 0.9

6 1.0

Mean value of (l/T? ) =

..ms.

.. ms .