force and length lab

8/3/2019 Force and Length Lab

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Veronica Gonzalez

Carolyn Sullivan,

Emily CaplesFebruary 9, 2011

Period 2

Spring Lab!

Purpose The purpose of this experiment is to discover how the length of a spring is related

to the force exerted. In this experiment, the group measured the varying length of

the spring as different masses were added to it. The independent variable was the

mass, which was eventually converted to weight, the force. The dependent

variable was the length of the spring, which changed based on the different forces.

Our hypothesis was that force would be proportional to the length of the spring.

The longer the spring, the more potential energy is stored.

Apparatus

Procedure We chose a spring and used fourteen different masses in order to complete our

data. We hung the spring from a stand, so the height of the spring would be

consistent. We placed different masses on the end of the spring, a new

measurement each time, and we used a meter stick to find the new length of it.

We recorded the length. Afterwards, we converted the measurements, which were

in centimeters, to meters, and we converted the masses to kilograms and then to



Weight. We imputed this data onto LoggerPro.

Data

Length (meters) Force (Newtons)

0.143 0.0000.209 0.980

0.286 1.960

0.523 4.900

0.362 2.940

0.171 0.490

0.249 1.470

0.405 3.430

0.328 2.450

0.557 5.390

0.150 0.196

0.788 8.3300.752 7.840

0.146 0.098

ALSO SEE GRAPH ATTACHED!!!!!

Evaluation Once plotted, the graph and data showed that force, in Newtons, is directly

Of Data proportional to length, in meters. The equation for our line was y= 12.68 N/m

(Length) + 0.13 N. The “under ten percent rule” was 1.6%, so our y-intercept

could be neglected. The correlation of our graph was 0.9999, so our data was

measured accurately.

Veronica Gonzalez

February 10, 2011



Honors Physics

Period 2

Spring Lab!

Conclusion In conclusion, we found that force (weight in Newtons) has a relationship to

length (meters), which is directly proportional . Our hypothesis was partially

correct, except for the fact of being “directly” proportional. I learned that because

the spring was being stretched longer and longer each time more mass was added,

there was more potential energy being stored. The type of energy is elastic

potential energy, which is the result of stretching an elastic object. It is equal to

the work that is done. This depends on the spring constant and the distance that

the object is stretched. In the experiment, we kept many things constant including

the number of coils we hung the weights from, the height of the top of the spring,

the actual spring itself, the “wind” factor, and the initial length, which was 0.143

meters. As stated above, our equation for the experiment was y= 12.68 N/m

(Length) + 0.13 N. This meant that in order for our spring to be stretched a meter,

12.68 N needs to be added to the end of it. All in all, when you increase the force,

the change in length is directly proportional! I really enjoyed this experiment, and

I learned a lot about forces and energy from it!

force and length lab

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