Spring Constant Lab

Procedure:
Step 1: Gather materials. Timer, spring, rubberband, and weights.
Step 2: Hang the spring up. Have the rubber band close by.
Step 3: Add grams to the spring and bounce the spring. Measure with the rubber band how many times the spring oscillates. Record oscillations and the time it takes for one.
Step 4: Calculate the spring constant and kinetic energy.

We measured the displacement, force, period, and # of oscillations.

We calculated K (spring constant), period

We then graphed the displacement vs. force then the period vs. force.

Force               Displacement

0 kg                   5.3 cm

.196 kg              5.9 cm

.392 kg              10.9 cm

.588 kg              17.6 cm

.784 kg              24 cm

.98 kg                30 cm

1.176 kg            36 cm

1.372 kg            42 cm

1.568 kg            48 cm

Force                 Period

0 kg                     0 s

.196 kg                .21 s

.392 kg                .44 s

.588 kg                .87 s

.784 kg                1.01 s

.98 kg                  1.16 s

1.176 kg              1.22 s

1.372 kg              1.39 s

1.568 kg              1.48 s

We used:  PE = 1/2kx squared

We graphed everything, found the slope and that was our spring constant, (k)

Fd=1/2(.032)(42.7) squared

Conclusions:

What I learned: I learned more about kinetic and potential energy, and I also learned that this takes a lot of recording! I learned about how to find constants as well.

Errors: Not all numbers were correct. I could have converted the displacement from cm to m.

Principles in Real Life: Bungee Jumping