Compute properties of an elastic cord
Investigate the properties of an elastic cord as it
supports different amounts of weight.
You should have a neat table with your results:
- diameter of cord
- rest length of cord
- for a set of different masses
- mass
- length of cord
- amount by which cord has stretched
Create two graphs with your data:
- Make a graph on which the slope of the line
will show the spring constant k of the cord.
- Make a graph on which the slope of the line
will show the Young's modulus E of the cord.
On each graph, show clearly the range of masses over which
the relationship is linear, and the range (if any) over which
the relationship is NOT linear.
- Use the linear portions of each graph to compute
the spring constant k and Young's modulus E
of the cord.
Include uncertainties if you can.
- I claim there is a theoretical connection between k and E
that looks something like this:
( )
k = ( something ) * E
( )
- Based on the values from your graphs, what is the
"something"?
Call this the
experimental result.
- Using theory and the defintions of spring constant
and Young's modulus, what is the "something?"
Provide it in symbols, in terms of some properties
of the cord.
Call this the theoretical result.
- Plug in the measured properties of your cord to the
theoretical result.
Does it agree with your experimental result?