EXPERIMENT 9 – SPRING CONSTANT
AIM
To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting graph between load and
extension.
APPARATUS
Spring, a rigid support, slotted weights, a vertical wooden
scale, a fine pointer, a hook.
THEORY
When a load F suspended from lower free end of a spring hanging from a rigid support,
it increases its length by amount x,
then F
x
or F= k x,
where k is constant of proportionality.
It is called the force constant or the spring constant of the spring.
DIAGRAM
PROCEDURE
1. Suspend the spring from a rigid support. Attach a pointer and a hook from .
free end.
2. Hang a 20 g hanger from the hook.
3. Set the vertical wooden scale such that the tip of the pointer comes over the
the scale.
4. Note the reading of the position of the tip of the pointer on the scale. Record the reading in
loading column against zero load. .
5. Gently add a 20 g slotted weight to the hanger. The pointer tip moves down.
