When different weights are hung on a spring, the spring stretches to different lengths as shown in the following table.
F(N) L (mm) F(N) L (mm)
2.0 15 14 101
4.0 30 16 130
6.0 48 18 144
8.0 65 20 156
10 75 22 172
12 102
(a) Make a graph of the applied force versus the extension of the spring. By least-squares fitting, determine the straight line that best fits the data. Do you want to use all the data points, or should you
ignore some of them? Explain. (Do this in a computer spreadsheet or other appropriate software application. Your instructor may ask you to turn in this work.)
(b) From the slope of the best-fit line, find the spring constant $k$.
Your response differs from the correct answer by more than 10%. Double check your calculations. N/m
(c) If the spring is extended to 101 mm, what force does it exert on the suspended weight?
Enter a number. differs from the correct answer by more than 10%. Double check your calculations. N
