Experiments on General Properties of Matter 87

AY FORCE CONSTRNT OF Á`PRING

sis fixed to a rigid support and a
tensile force F
n dora
sprin
As a result, the spring has an increase
other

t n e

àmount
Fig. 1.3]. According to Newton's third
at
d springwill also exert an equal and opposite
an
by
m o t i o nt h e
th
f o e e f i scalled called the elastic force.
is
N ne

O GO Robert
R o b e r t Hooke,

F=
kx
O
is called force constant
fX
of the above equation
t k
expresses its stiffness. As the
neCeConstant of a spring
more stif.
the spring becomes
u g n gF o r c e

i n c r e a s e s ,

constnstant in CGS system is dyn cm-1 and in

force
nit of
Fig 1.3
he
sts
N-m-1

PERMENT To Find the Force-Constant of a Helical Spring by

| Plotting Graph between Load and Extension
82 load F is suspended from the
other
is fixed with a rigid support and a
6 one end of spring a

free end then,

by 1, Fcl
increase in length of the spring
forthe
k is the force constant of the spring.
or, F kl, where
For I= 1, F k of the
=

spring is called the force constant

unit increase in length of a
ie, applied force for
spring. hook at one end
fitted with a
the spring, a lightweight helical spring
OStand for hanging slotted weights of 50g or 20g
at the other end,
hanger and some
and horizontal pointer to the stand.
a wooden scale
which can be fitted
each,
from its lower end.
from the stand. The hanger is hung
The spring is suspended a way that
the tip of the pointer
attached to the stand in such the scale but
n e wooden scale is
with the division marks of
end of the spring aligns
dtached to the lower
does not touch the scale. In this condition, weight| no

on the scale is noted. zero load

of the pointer the
R corresponds to
tng of the position reading of the scale
from the hook-i.e., the present
ung
of the spring [Fig. 1.4].
 XI
8 8 chhaya Practical Physics

E
D

10

number of weights on hook 0 number of weights on hook =1

position of pointer =0 position of pointer =2 number of weights on
position of pointerhot=4
Fig 1.4 Fig 1.5
Fig 1.6

8
10
10

number of weights on hook = 3 number of weights on hook = 4

position of pointer =6 position of pointer = 8
Fig 1.7
Fig 1.8
 Experiments on General Properties of Matter

on the hanger. The pointer moves down. Waiting for some

is put
N o w a
atted weight
s l o t t e d

of the scale is recorded

to rest, the corresponding position
he oointertip
comes

t i m et i

Fis.1.5).
few slotted weights. In each case, after
performed repeatedly for
more
riment is
to come to rest, the corresponding readings
on the
time
time for
for pointer
Thee r some for
some

waiting
recorded [Fig. 1.6-1.8).
from the hanger. Each time, the reading of
are

the weights are taken off

ale
Scale

o n e , the
by for each weight-once
this way, two readings are available
ne

NOWter tip is taken. In decrease in load (y). Average of the

during
t h e p o i n t e r

in load (X) and other

aa the increases are taken.
two readings
each of the
division
he smallest div of the vertical scale

change lin length with the change of load:

Table showing
eTable
Table-1
Reading of the pointer
Weight (w) or
Increase in
Weight Reading during Reading during Average
reading length
force (F) applied the increase in the decrease in () cm
on the spring load load
(x) cm (v) cm

2 2-21
50

3 321
100

24 4-21
150

200
5-21

16 61
250

300
27-21

Plotting ofload vs, increase in length graph

and determination offorce-constant:
Table-2

Weight (W) or force (F) applied on 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
the spring measured in g

Increase in length () cm
laking weight W (i.e., applied force F) in gf along the x -axis and increase in length , |

Cm unit is 1.9]. The graph will be a straight line

along the y -axis, a graph plotted [Fig.
passing through the origin.
 Practical Physics XI
CL90 chhaya

1 smallest division=gf
along horizontal axs: 1 smallest division=..cm
alongverticalaxds

X
(0,0) loadorapplied force (

Fig 1.9

arbitrary points A and B

Two are taken on the F-/ graph. Corresponding change in F
these two points BC ... gf.
= =

Change in for this change of F =AC = ...cm.

. Force constant of the spring, k =

gf cm-l

Load on spring should not be

such that it brings a
Increase and decrease of permanent deformation.
weight should be carried out gently and
In both the cases of very carefully
taken after the
putting on and
taking off weights, the reading of scale
pointer comes to rest. should
Care should be taken
to ensure that
the pointer does not touch the scale.