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.

Answer 2

To make an improvised spring scale, you can use a coiled spring (such as a small one from a retractable pen), attach a string or wire to the top of the spring, and then attach an object to the bottom end of the string. As you pull down on the spring, it will stretch, and you can use the displacement of the spring to measure the force applied to it, acting as a simple spring scale.