Workout: Springs

Read

Springs

Launch

the PhET simulation Hooke’s Law

Set up

Click on the “play” button triangle and start the sim. Then choose “intro”. Check all five boxes on the right hand side (applied force, spring force, displacement, equilibrium, values). Play around with the red slider control for the applied force. Your screen should look like the image below.

Answer these questions

1. What can you say about the size and direction of the applied force, and the size and direction of the spring force, also sometimes called the restoring force? 

Leave the red slider control for the applied force maxed out at +100 N. Then play around with the blue slider control, which affects the spring constant, also sometimes called the constant of elasticity, but always abbreviated with $k$.

1. What are the units for $k$? In 2-3 sentences, explain.
2. Is a higher value for $k$ result in a stiffer/less stretchy spring, or a less stiff/more stretchy spring? Why do you think this? 

Return the value for k to 200 N/m and again play with the red slider control for applied force.

3. What relationship exists between the applied force and the green displacement vector for a constant $k$? Is it linear? quadratic? something else?

In 1678 English Physicist Robert Hooke published that "As the extension, so the force". He established that most solids behave (at times) with elastic properties; even very "inelastic" materials like steel will behave elastically under large loads. In short he resolved that $F_s = -kx$ where: 

$F_s$ is a "spring force" or "restoring force" (as the spring tries to return to its original or unloaded form) (Units: Newtons);  $x$ is the elongation or the compression of the spring. Basically the difference in length of the spring when stretched from its unstretched length. (Units: meters) The negative sign indicates that the Spring Force is in the direction opposite that of the displacement (elongation).

4. Predict the deformation or elongation of a spring that has a constant of elasticity of 400 N/m when a force of 75 N is applied in the rightward direction. 
5. What is the direction of the restoring force, or spring force? 

Dave Buehrle, Fall 2016