Stretching Spring RPA

Question 1

Method

Answer 1

1) set up clamp stand on table with heavy weight on its base to prevent it from falling over/ off the table and causing injury if it lands on your toes (see diagram above)
2) attach spring to clamp and attach pointer at bottom end of spring so that it’s perpendicular to the vertical part of the clamp stand
3) use a ruler to measure the length of the unstretched spring before any masses have been added by lining up the 0m mark of the ruler with the top of the spring and seeing the measurement where the pointer is in line with- record result in a table
4) using the hook at the bottom of the spring add a 1N weight to the bottom of the spring the use the pointer and ruler to record the new length of the spring and record the result in the table
5) repeat step 4, each time adding another 1N weight to the spring and waiting for it to stop moving before measuring the length, then measuring the length until a total of 10 Newtons have been added to the spring
6) to calculate the extension of the spring for each weight subtract the original instructed length of the spring from the measured value
7) plot results on graph with extension on y axis and weight on x axis

Question 2

Name for piece of equipment that lines up with ruler to accurately calculate length of spring

Answer 2

Pointer

Question 3

What shape is the graph for extension of spring compared to weight

Answer 3

Directly proportional

Question 4

Why can the graph turn non linear

Answer 4

The spring is overstretched
(So even if the weight is taken away the spring won’t return back to its original length but will stay extended)

Inelastic deformation occurs as the spring has exceeded the limit of proportionality

Question 5

Name for point in graph for if spring has been overstretched so the relationship is no longer directly proportional

Answer 5

Limit of proportionality

Question 6

What goes on what axis of the graph

Answer 6

Y axis = extension
X axis = weight (force)

Question 7

How to calculate extension of spring for each weight

Answer 7

Length of stretched spring- original length of unattached spring

Question 8

2 Hazards and safety precautions

Answer 8

1) clamp falls over and off table so lands on toes (hazard) causing injury (risk)
Safety precaution: put heavy mass on base of clamp stand to reduce risk of it falling over and place in centre of table so that it cannot fall off

2) spring breaks/ comes loose (hazard) causing damage to eyes (risk)
Safety precaution: wear safety goggles

Question 9

Why wear safety goggles

Answer 9

In case spring comes loose to prevent damage to eyes

Question 10

How to use graph and equipment to find unknown weight if object

Answer 10

At end of experiment when graph has been drawn attach object to base of spring and measure extension of spring buy subtracting new stretched length from original unstretched length
Draw line on axis where extension is up to line on graph then at the point where it hits the axis draw a vertical line going downwards
Where it reaches the axis is the weight of teh object

Question 11

What is the boss

Answer 11

Used to connect equipment to the clamp stand e.g the clamp which has the spring attached to it