Physlet Illustration: Behavior of a Spring

 

 
A spring is suspended from the ceiling, as shown, and is initially at its equilibrium length. The display grid is in meters, and the force exerted by the spring is shown in Newtons. The force vs. displacement is also shown on the accompanying graph. Drag (pull or push) the end of the spring, and determine the spring constant. Up to what displacement (from equilibrium) does this spring obey Hooke's law?

Hints

  1. How much force does it take to stretch (or compress) the spring by one meter?
  2. Is the same force required to stretch or to compress the spring by the same distance?
  3. What does the functional plot of force vs. displacement look like as long as Hooke's Law is obeyed?

Reference

See Walker, Section 6-2

Illustration written by Steve Mellema