In Equation (11) and (12), why did we not equate the spring force with the total weight of the system Mg?
Part 1:
Determination of the Spring Constant k Using Hooke's Law Method
The force exerted by an ideal spring is a linear restoring force vector whose magnitude is ky and direction is opposite to the stretch y. This force tries to restore the spring to its original length L = L. The quantity y = L/L is the elastic extension (stretch) of the spring from its unstretched length L.
Free length of the spring:
F - y
Load carrier attached to the spring:
In = Lm
Disk attached to the load carrier spring assembly:
mg
Spring deflection according to Hooke's Law:
Figure 6
For static equilibrium, the magnitude of the upward force exerted by the spring is equal to the weight of the attached mass W = mng, where Ma. We would determine the value by measuring the amount of stretch y for various weights W = mg. It turns out to be simpler and more accurate to measure the length L for various masses Tnl and then determine k from the relation
F = mg = ky = k(L - L)
(11)
L = Sm + L = (9 / k)m + L
(12)
L = (9 / m) + L
The above equation represents a straight line relationship between L and m with slope S = (9 / k) and an intercept L shown in Fig. (7.) Figure
slope
Relationship between L and m