AP Physics Spring lab
Liang
Name_________________
Adding a Little Spring to your Step
In this lab, you will find the spring constants of various springs and compare the calculated theoretical
period and frequency to the actual measured in lab
Materials: rulers, springs, masses 500g and 1 kg, stop watches
Note: Please do not overstretch the springs resulting in deformity and thus rendering them useless.
Useful formulas: Fspring= kx
T = 2Π √ (m/k)
f=1/T
Part 1: Measuring the k of weigh springs
Procedure: Describe what you did to find the k of the weigh spring and show calculations
The k of weigh spring was:__________
?: If I had given you the weigh spring with no weights, would you still be able to find the k of the spring?
Explain.
Part 2: Find the k of the given spring in class
Procedure: Describe what you did to find the k of your spring and show calculations
The k of your weigh spring was:_____________
Calculate what the period and frequency of your spring would be if you were given a 1 kg mass. Show work.
Period:_________
Frequency:_____________
Now, test your spring’s period and frequency by attaching a 1 kg mass to it and displacing it slightly to get
it to oscillate. Time 5-10 periods of the oscillations and write you data below along with calculations for
period and frequency:
Period:_____________
Frequency:_______________
?: How does your actual compare with your theoretical? What are some factors that could result in a
difference between the two? ( Hint: think about where energy could have been lost in the system)
?: Explain why the period formula does not take into account the amount of displacement you put on the
weight. (hint: think about the energy involved in the system)
Bonus: knowing what you now know about spring constants, predict what the spring constant of a slinky
would be:
If you were to attach a weight to the slinky, how would its period and frequency compare with the springs
you used in class.