Keith Chan
Physics Lab Planning (A) Topic: Plan an experiment to investigate one factor that affects the spring constant of springs. Research question Investigate how the non-stretched length of the spring affects its spring constant. Hypothesis As the non-stretched length of the spring increase, the spring constant increases as well. Explanation According to Hooke’s Law, the extension produced is directly proportional to the load, i.e. F = - k x, where x is the distance by which the spring is elongated, F is the restoring force exerted by the spring and k is the spring constant or force constant of the spring. If the same amount of force is applied to two springs of different non-stretched lengths, the spring with a shorter non-stretched length would have a larger elongated distance as the same amount of force is applied less amount of particles. By k = F/x, the spring constant is smaller for a shorter non-stretched length.
Variables 1. Independent variables: Non-stretched length of spring 2. Dependent variables: Elongated length of spring 3. Constants: Temperature of the surrounding Material of springs (i.e. their elasticity is kept constant) Radius of the springs No. of coils in the springs
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