What's another way I could find the spring constant experimentally?

[sodium40mg]

Homework Statement

Basically I have to find two methods to show Hooke's Law by finding the spring constant of a spring. This is one method we did:

We basically measured the length of the spring. This is your initial spring length. Then make one end of the the spring stationary and connect the other end to the force meter and pull. Note the force on the force meter (this is your applied force). At the same time, measure the length of the spring at that exact force. The difference b/w this second measurement and the initial spring length is the change in length.

then simply use Hooke's law for spring.

F=k*x where x is the change in spring length

Homework Equations

F=k*x

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea any other way to do this? How could I use acceleration or velocity or something like that? Also, keep in mind I don't that motion sensor equipment or software unfortunately.

 

[Andrew Mason]

I have no idea any other way to do this? How could I use acceleration or velocity or something like that? Also, keep in mind I don't that motion sensor equipment or software unfortunately.

Think: harmonic motion. What is the relationship between frequency of vibration and k for a mass m connnected to the spring?

AM

 

[sodium40mg]

Think: harmonic motion. What is the relationship between frequency of vibration and k for a mass m connnected to the spring?

AM

Hmm...frequency of vibration is basically 1/T, or the time? Sorry, I actually don't know.

 

[Andrew Mason]

Hmm...frequency of vibration is basically 1/T, or the time? Sorry, I actually don't know.

If you have not studied simple harmonic motion of a mass on a spring, you may not be expected to use this method. The relationship between period, mass and k is:

$$\frac{2\pi}{T} = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$$

AM

 

[sodium40mg]

If you have not studied simple harmonic motion of a mass on a spring, you may not be expected to use this method. The relationship between period, mass and k is:

$$\frac{2\pi}{T} = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$$

AM

Yeah, that seems a little far fetched for our current understanding. Do you think there's any other way to measure the distance the spring changes with mass other than measuring it with a ruler? Something with acceleration, velocity? I'll do some research but I'm just hoping someone can key me in here.

 

[ehild]

You can hang an object of known mass on the spring and measure the change of length by a ruler. That object can be 200 g of candy for example. The force is the weight of the object, mg. And you certainly have got a ruler to measure x, the change of the length .

ehild

 

[sodium40mg]

You can hang an object of known mass on the spring and measure the change of length by a ruler. That object can be 200 g of candy for example. The force is the weight of the object, mg. And you certainly have got a ruler to measure x, the change of the length .

ehild

That's basically what we did for the first method though?

 

[ehild]

Yes, it is, but no need of a force meter.
The basically different method would be the one AM suggested, measuring the time period of vibration.

ehild