How do you make an improvised spring scale?

Answer 1

Spring Scale Materials and Equipment To do this you will need the following materials and equipment: * Several springs with different lengths, diameters, and stiffness * Weights to hang from springs, here are some tips: ** You can use metal weights, or hang a container from the spring and fill it with glass beads, water, or sand ** The appropriate weight to be used with each spring depends on the stiffness of spring, you'll have to use your best judgment * Sturdy support from which to hang the springs, for example: ** Wood ** Sturdy cup hook ** Clamp ** Screw the cup hook into one end of the piece of wood ** Clamp the other end of the wood to a table or workbench ** Hang the spring from the cup hook ** The clamp and wood will both need to be strong enough to support the weights you intend to hang from your springs * Kitchen scale for measuring actual mass of weights used * Metric ruler Procedure # Do your background research so that you are knowledgeable about the terms, concepts, and questions, above. # For each spring, do the following steps: ## Hang the spring from a sturdily-mounted hook. ## Measure the length of the spring with no weight hanging from it. Always measure between the same two points on the spring (you may even want to mark them). ## Hang a weight from the spring, and wait for it to settle. ## Again measure the length of the spring. ## Measure the mass of the weight, using the kitchen scale. ## Repeat for a series of different weights. ## Remove the weight from the spring, and check to make sure that the spring returns to its initial length. ## Do at least three trials for each spring. # Keep track of your results in a table like this one: Weight

(g) Length of spring

(cm) Average

(cm) Change in length

(cm) Trial #1 Trial #2 Trial #3 0 - 5 10 20 40 0 - # To calculate the change in length, subtract the average length of the spring with no weight (0 g) from the averaged measured length for each of the other weights. # For each spring, make a graph of the change in length of the spring (in cm, y-axis) vs. the mass of the weight hanging from the spring (in g, x-axis). # More advanced students should graph the change in length of the spring (in cm, y-axis) vs. the force on the spring (in newtons, x-axis). The force on the spring in newtons can be obtained by multiplying the mass (in kg) by the acceleration due to gravity: 9.8 m/s2. Remember that to convert g to kg, you have to divide by 1000.