Hooke's Law Experiment
Measure stretch against load to find the spring constant.
About this topic
To find a spring's constant, hang increasing masses from a spring and measure the extension for each. Plot force (weight) against extension: within the elastic limit you get a straight line through the origin whose gradient is k. Beyond the limit the line curves, showing permanent deformation.
Repeat readings and average them to reduce random error, and read the ruler at eye level to avoid parallax. Measure the original length without a load, then subtract it from the stretched length to get extension. Use weights in newtons, found with W = mg. Remove the loads to check the spring returns to its original length.
Example: masses of 100 g, 200 g and 300 g give weights of 0.98, 1.96 and 2.94 N, and extensions of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm. The gradient is about 0.98/0.025 = 39 N/m. The area under the graph gives the energy stored in the spring. Such tests are used to calibrate force meters and check material properties.
Tips: do not overload the spring beyond its limit, take extra readings when unloading to check for hysteresis, and describe sources of error such as a non-vertical spring, reading errors and inaccurate masses.
Key ideas
- Plot force vs extension
- Slope equals k
- Stay within the elastic limit
Quick check
Use cases: where Hooke's Law Experiment helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Hooke's Law Experiment before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Hooke's Law Experiment without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Hooke's Law Experiment changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Hooke's Law Experiment in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
The same laws describe car crashes, sports, satellites and everyday machines.
Frequently asked questions
What is Hooke's Law Experiment?
Measure stretch against load to find the spring constant.
What will I learn in Hooke's Law Experiment?
Plot force vs extension. Slope equals k. Stay within the elastic limit.
Is Hooke's Law Experiment part of Physics?
Yes. It is one of 150 Physics topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Hooke's Law Experiment lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Hooke's Law Experiment?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.