How can we store energy to do work for us later?
How we investigated the big question: For this lab, we hooked a spring onto our force probe. We then began to stretch the spring various amounts and recorded the force needed to stretch it. We stretched it 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5cm. We recorded our results in a table. We graphed our data and created a best fit line to derive the slope. The slope is also the k value or spring constant, which tells us how many newtons of force the spring provides for every meter it is stretched. The equation of our line was y= 45.96 x + 2.949. The values we got for the force are in the picture. This formula became Us= 1/2 kx squared.
Answer to big question:
We found out that the higher the k value, the stiffer the spring is. The higher the distance stretched,the higher the force required.
Evidence to support our conclusions: As we stretched the spring farther distances, the force required to stretch it increased as well. We got 3.34 newtons when we stretched the spring 1 cm, but the force increased to 3.916 N when we stretched it 2 cm.
How I can use this in a different situation:
I can use what I learned about the spring constant in various other situations. I can use the formula for the potential energy of a spring in order to find out how much potential energy the spring has when I know the distance stretched and the force required to stretch it.
How does this relate outside of class:
I can use this new knowledge when it comes to car shocks absorbers. I would be able to figure out how much force it takes to compress the spring and keep the car from bouncing up and down.
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