Lab Investigating Spring Constant of Combination of Springs

Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Objective: In this lab, you will derive an expression for the spring constant of one spring and a combinations of several springs. The
elastic potential energy stored in selected combinations will also be examined.

Go to: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/hookes-law

Part 1: Finding the spring constant of a single spring

Click at the center of the screenshot. Then click on the intro.

Check all five boxes on the right-hand side of the menu (applied force, spring force, displacement, equilibrium, values).
While the spring constant is provided, you will derive the data.

• You will exert a specific force (marked red), record the force, and record the spring elongation.

Note that the lab is programmed so that the input is the applied force, and the output is the spring “displacement.”
The term displacement is not the most accurate because the spring does not change its displacement; it changes its length by elongation
or compression.
To correctly apply and interpret the area under the graph, the output (y) is the force, and the input (x) is the elongation.

Use this button to stretch the spring.

Applied Force (N) The Elongation (m)

0
10
50
90
100

The property of the spring (called the spring constant) cannot be observed directly. Therefore, it can be called a mediating
parameter. The mediating parameter will be visualized as the slope of the force vs. elongation graph. Its magnitude will affect the
graph’s inclination to the x-axis.
• Establish a scale, label the axes using the independent and dependent variables, and plot the data.
 • Use a ruler to draw the best-fit line if you anticipate that the graph should be linear.
• Compute the slope of the line and show its units.

• The slope represents the spring constant. Provide conceptual interpretation of the slope.

• Find an algebraic equation of the line using 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 and express the force as 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥.

The interpretation of 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥 needs more attention.

The applied force (in red) and the spring force (blue) are equal because of Newton’s 3rd law.
• The applied force can be used to calculate the external work done on the spring. The force labeled in blue will be more
meaningful when an external object is attached to it (in problem-solving). The direction of this force is opposite thus you will
see 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) = −𝑘𝑥.
• The external work done by the applied force in stretching the spring is converted into elastic potential energy stored in the
spring. For simplicity of the calculations, you will consider the magnitude, thus the positive value of the force.

Note that the spring stiffness can be used to justify the magnitude of the spring constnt.
• The higher the stiffness, the higher the spring constnt is
• The higher the spring constnt, the more energy it can store (assuming the same amount of stretch).

Problem

1. In general, the energy stored in the spring can be calculated using the integral function 𝐸𝑠 (𝑥) = ∫ 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 because the
𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) does not have to be linear. It is linear, then the accumulation under the graph of 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) formulates a triangle that is easy
to compute using geometry formulas. More precisely, the energy stored in the spring under
𝑥
𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) the graph can be computed using ∆𝐸𝑠 = ∫𝑥 2 𝐹𝑠 (𝑥) 𝑑𝑥.
1
a. Using the formula above, find the energy stored in the spring when the elongation of the spring changes from x=0.1m to
x=0.2m.

b. What is the work done by an external force in this process?

c. The energy stored in the spring can also be calculated using the accumulation (area) under the graph and utilizing
geometry formulas. Use the idea of the area to find energy stored in the spring.
 d. By the work-energy theorem, tasks (a), (b), and (c) should lead to identical answers. Verify this statement.

2. The change of length of the spring in #1 was ∆𝑥 = 0.1 𝑚. Will the energy stored in the spring be the same if the spring is
starched from 0.2m to 0.3m? __________ Provide conceptual interpretation of your judgment. Calculate the energy to verify
your prediction.

3. Suppose that starting from x=0m, the compression of the spring is - 0.5m.
a) Will the energy stored be the same if the spring were stretched by 0.5m instead? ______Under what condition is this true?

b) Should the integration process display the same results?

c) Prove your predictions. Hint: as the spring compresses, the lower limit of integration is x=0, and the upper x = -0.5 m. However,
such a limit setup does not satisfy the calculus rules! Thus, you need to switch the limits; the lower limit must be negative, and
the upper as zero. In doing so, you must include a negative in front of the antiderivative to satisfy calculus rules!

You will now explore various spring connections.

Part 2: Finding the spring constant of springs connected in parallel (both are attached to the object)

Click on Systems Use the system that shows a parallel connection.

• In the simulation, change the spring force of the top spring to 200N/m and the lower to 300N/m.
• On the menu on the right side, you can see the total force acting on both springs or the individual forces acting on each spring
due to applied force.

Questions

1. Will the equivalent spring constant (𝑘𝐸𝑄 ) of the system be lower than or higher than any of the individual springs? Support
your answer.

2. Suppose that a force of 50N acts on the system.

• Will both springs extend by the same amount? _________________
d) Suppose that the springs are extended and remain at rest.
• Will each spring exert the same force on the connecting mechanism (the vertical element with the hook)? _______
• What are the expected amounts of newtons each spring will exert? ____________________
e) Will each spring store the same amount of elastic potential energy? _______________________
f) Will the graph of F(x) have a lower or higher slope?____________________________________
Now you will follow a similar process; see Part 1 and find the spring constant of the system. Change the spring force to total to gather
the data.

Applied Force (N) The Elongation (m)

0
10
50
70
100

• Label the axes as in part 1 and plot the data.

• Use a ruler to draw the best-fit line, and calculate the slope (𝑘𝐸𝑄 ) and write a function equation of the line
𝐹(𝑥) =_____________

• Considering the magnitudes of the spring constants, what is the relation between the spring constants of the individual springs
and the spring constant of the system of two springs?

Summary: The equivalent spring constant of various springs connected in parallel can be calculated by adding the individual spring
constants; thus, 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 +.. or 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑘𝑖 . Realizing this principle is essential to computing energy stored in the springs.

• Using the values of k’s from this part of the lab and substituting them to 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 verify the slope value.

Problem. Suppose that two springs are connected in parallel, thus 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 . Suppose that 𝑘1 = 10𝑁/𝑚 but 𝑘2 can take values
from 0 to infinitely large.
a) Evaluate and interpret the result lim ( 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 ) = ____________________
𝑘2 →∞

What type of material will satisfy 𝑘2 → ∞? Will the system stretch a lot or rather remain unstretched?

b) What is the equivalent spring constant for the system if 𝑘2 → 0? _____________________________________________

What type of material will satisfy 𝑘2 → 0? Will the system stretch a lot or instead remain unstretched?

𝑚
c) Suppose the system forms a pendulum. What is the period of oscillation if 𝑚 = 2𝑘𝑔 and 𝑘2 → ∞? Use 𝑇 = 2𝜋√ . Explain.
𝑘
Part 3: Finding the spring constant of two springs connected in series (one connects to the object and the next is connected to the
first)

Click on Systems Activate the one-in-series connection.

You will investigate the equivalent spring constant of the same springs but connected in series now.
• You will use the same springs, one with 200N/m and the other with 300N/m.
• On the menu on the right side, you can investigate the total force or the individual forces acting on each spring due to applied
external force.
• The menu will be set on components.

• What is the expected spring constant of the system? Will it be lower than any of the springs or higher? __________Will the
slope be stipper?

You will follow a similar process as in Part 1 and find the equivalent spring constant of the system. Again, change the spring force to
total to gather the data. Note that the elongation is shown as both springs are added.

Applied Force (N) Elongation (m)

0
20
40
60
80

• Label the applied force on the vertical axis and the elongation on the horizontal.
• Plot the data, use a ruler to draw the best-fit line, and calculate the slope of the line.

• Write a function equation of the line FEQ= k EQ 𝑥 substitute the slope value for 𝑘𝐸𝑄 .
 • Was your prediction regarding the equivalent spring constant correct?

Summary

1 1
The spring constant of various springs connected in series can be calculated by adding the reciprocal of each spring; thus, = +
𝑘𝐸𝑄 𝑘1
1 1 1 1
+.. To find 𝑘𝐸𝑄 , 𝑎 reciprocal of entire sides of the equation must be considered. For two springs, = + and form to use to
𝑘2 𝑘𝐸𝑄 𝑘1 𝑘2
𝑘1 𝑘2
find 𝑘𝐸𝑄 is 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = (product over the saThis form is often used, thus it is recommended to be memorized.
𝑘1 +𝑘2

𝑘1 𝑘2
• Referring to the values of k’s in this part of the lab, substitute them to 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = to verify the slope value. Show your
𝑘1 +𝑘2
calculations_______________________________________________________________________________

𝑘1 𝑘2
Problem 2 Suppose that two springs are connected in series, thus 𝑘𝐸𝑄 = ; 𝑘1 = 50𝑁/𝑚 and 𝑘2 can take values from 0 to
𝑘1 +𝑘2
infinitely large.

𝑘1 𝑘2
a) Evaluate and comment (provide a real case) on the result of lim =
𝑘2 →∞ 𝑘1 +𝑘2

b) What is the equivalent spring constant if 𝑘2 → 0? _____________________________________________

𝑚
c) Suppose that the system forms a pendulum. What is the period of oscillation if m=1kg and 𝑘2 → ∞? 𝑇 = 2𝜋√ .
𝑘

d) Suppose that 𝑘2 = 2𝑘1 . Find an expression for the equivalent spring constant and evaluate it when 𝑘1 → ∞. Use 𝑘𝐸𝑄 =
𝑘1 𝑘2
.
𝑘1 +𝑘2