Hooke's Law and Spring Constants

Project #112 on iSENSEProject.org

Hang a spring VERTICALLY from a nail or some other fixed point near or on a vertical wall or board. A coat rack is an ideal spot. Be sure the spring is hanging straight down. On the wall or board next to or behind the spring, mark where the free end of the spring is, and label it '0,' for zero stretch in the spring. Now hang different masses from the spring, recording the amount of mass and how much the free end of the spring has stretched from its zero point. Be sure the masses can hang freely, with no friction or interference from the wall or board. If your class has springs of several different stiffnesses (spring constants), have students measure the stretch caused by hanging as many differing masses from each spring as possible. Record mass and corresponding amount of stretch. If several students or groups of students have springs of equal spring constants, be sure they don't all measure the same set of masses. Units are grams and centimeters.