LESSON 2.

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Understanding
elasticity.
Meaning of Elasticity

Elasticity is the property of a substance which

enables it to return to original shape @ size @ length
after an applied external force( compressive force

or stretching force) is removed.

Why is a solid is elastic ?

The property of elasticity is caused by the existence

of two forces between molecules or atoms in the
solid material.
The two forces are force of repulsion and force of
attraction between molecules.
When a compressive force is applied to the solid,
force of repulsion between the molecules pushes the
molecules back to their equilibrium positions.
When a stretching force is applied to the solid force
of attraction between the molecules pulls the
molecules back to their equilibrium positions.
In the absence of an applied external force on the
solid, the force of attraction is balanced by the force
of repulsion or the resultant force is zero.

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Graph of force between molecules , F against
the distance between molecules, x.

At distance X1 : is the equilibrium position where the

resultance force is zero.
At distance X < X1 : the solid is compressed where
force of repulsion > force of attraction.
At distance X1 < X<X2 : the solid is stretched where
force of attraction > force of repulsion until the force
of attraction reaches a maximum value at X2.
At distance X > X2 : the force of attraction will
decrease and the molecular layer will begin to slip
and solid will permanently change its shape. The
point where the solid loses its elastic characteristics
is call as the elastic limit. After this limit , the solid
will not return to its original shape.

Restoring Force

Figure(a): The spring is unstretched , i.e at natural

length and exerts zero force on the trolley.
Figure(b): As the spring is stretched to the right, it
exerts a force to the left on the trolley. This is called
a restoring force.

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Hooke’s Law
Hooke’s Law states that the extension of an elastic

substance is directly proportional to the stretching

force acting on it provided that the elastic limit is
not exceeded.

@ F  x
F=kx

F = the acting force or the effort

X = extension
k = the spring constant

Spring constant , k

F = kx,
k=F
x

the unit of k is Nm-1

spring constant , k = Gradient of the graph

A larger value of k or gradient indicates a stiffer

spring.

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P: stiff spring
Q: soft spring

Graph of Stretching Force, F against Spring

extension,
A : Elastic limit
OA : The graph is a straight line passing through the
origin. Thus the stretching force is directly
proportional to the extension of the spring and
Hooke’s law is obeyed.
AB: The graph takes the form a curve, that is the
stretching force is not vary directly with extension of
the spring and Hooke’s law is no applicable.

Why does the oscillation of a spring stops?

If you leave a mass on a spring oscillating it

eventually slows down and stops. Air resistance
slows the object down. Energy is lost from the
system in overcoming this friction. This effect is
called damping.

In an ammeter or in a car’s suspension needs to stop

the oscillations as quickly as possible .So damping
process should be happen as quickly as possible.

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Factors affecting the rate of extension or
stiffness of a spring

Type of spring material: A spring made from a

hard material extending shorter than a spring
made from a soft material. For example a steel
spring extending shorter than a copper spring.
Diameter of spring coil: A spring coil of a larger
diameter is easier to stretch ( the rate of extension
is high) compared to a spring coil of smaller
diameter.
Diameter of the wire of the spring : A spring coil
made from a thicker wire is harder ( the rate of
extension is low) compared a spring made from a
thinner wire.
The original length of the spring: Stretch of a
longer spring is more easier than stretch of a
shorter spring .
The spring constant , k : The spring which has a
larger value of k is the spring which more stiff(the
rate of extension is low)
Spring arrangement: Stretch of a spring in series
is more easier than stretch of a spring in parallel.

Use of Elasticity in Everyday Life:

(1) Cushion / mattress: The spring in a cushion or
mattress undergo many cycles of compression
during use and each time the cushion is able to

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 return to its original shape. This is due to the
elasticity of the springs.
(2) Electric meter : Electric meters such as
ammeter, voltmeter and galvanometer have
spiral springs. The springs are used to stop the
pointer at a specific point on the scale or to
return the pointer to the zero mark on the scale
after a measurement has been taken
(3) Weighing apparatus: A weighing apparatus
such as spring balance , a spring is either
extended or compressed and it obeys the
Hooke ‘ law and it caused the apparatus has a
linear scale.
(4) Vehicles spring support: It enables the
passengers in a vehicle to be seated in a
comfortable position when the vehicle goes on a
bumpy road because springs shock absorbers are
mounted on the wheels of vehicles to absorb
impacts and damp vibrations resulting from
movement on the bumpy road or uneven road
surface.
(5) In sports : The elastic strings of a tennis or a
badminton racket enable them to rebound the
ball or shuttle.
The ropes used by rock climbers have elastic
properties that can save lives during climbing
accidents. The ropes are made of a continuous-
drawn nylon fibre core and a protective textile
covering . This reduces the stopping force acting
on a falling climber.
A bow bends or elastic twine of the bow is
stretched to store the elastic potential energy
used to propel the arrow.

Spring Systems
There are two ways to arrange a spring, that is,
(a) Series arrangement
(b) Parallel arrangement

Series Parallel
In series arrangement same load is applied to each
spring i.e W

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In parallel arrangement the load is shared equally
among the springs . i.e W
2

Example 1
The original length of a spring is 5 cm. With a load of
mass 20 g, the length of the spring is extended to
7 cm.
Determine
(a) the extension of the spring with a load 40 g
(b) the length of the spring with a load 60 g.
(c) the load required to extend the spring to 20 cm.

Solution

Example 2

Spring A extends by 2 cm when it hung with a 10 g

weight. Spring B extends by 4 cm when it hung with
a 10g weight. Find the total stretch in each of the
spring systems shown in the following figure.

Solution

Elastic Potential Energy ( Ee)

Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in a

elastic matter when it is extended or compressed.
Thus,

Ee = ½ F x = ½ kx2 = Area under the

graph F vs. x

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 F = Force
x = extension k = spring constant

Example 3

The original length of a spring is 12 cm. With a load

of 20 g , the length of the spring is extended to 15
cm.
What is the elastic potential energy stored in the
spring?

Solution

Example 4

Figure shows a graph of force, F against extension, x

for a spring.

What is the potential energy stored when the spring

is extended by 0.4 m?

Solution

Example 5

Figure shows a ball of mass 10 g pushed against one

end of a spring on a smooth surface. The original
length of the spring is 14 cm and its spring constant
is 200 N m-1.

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Determine
(a) the elastic potential energy stored in the spring.
(b) the maximum velocity reached by the ball after
the compressive force on the spring is removed.

Solution

TUTORIAL
2.11

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1 property of elasticity is caused by the existence
of

A the force of repulsion between molecules

B the force of attraction between molecules
C the force of repulsion and attraction between
molecules

2 The relationship between stretching force, F, with

the extension ,x , of a spring is given by the
equation;
F = kx
where k is the spring constant.
What is the unit of K?

A N m-1 B N m-2
C kg m-1 D kg m-2

3 The spring constant ,k increases when

A the spring length increases

B the diameter of the sprig increases
C the diameter of the spring wire increases

4 The figure shows two springs with a different

original length . A piece of wood slowly moved
towards the wall with a force F so that the
springs are compressed together with a distance,

x
Which one of the following graph is true?

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5 The figure shows a force- extension graph for a
spring.

Which section of the graph Hooke’s law is

obeyed?

A AO
B AB
C At point B
D After point B

6 A spring extends by 4 cm when it hung with a

load of 8N. Find the weight of a load when hung
from the same spring, produces an extension of
5 cm.

A 9N B 10 N
C 12 N D 14 N
E 16 N

7 The figure shows a spring of length 18 cm

compressed to a length of 10 cm by a load of
P and compressed to a length of 8 cm by a
load of 10 kg.

What is the value of P ?

A 4 kg B 6 kg
C 8 kg D 9 kg
E 12 kg

8 Figure shows (a) the pointer reading of a spring

without load. Figure (b) and (c) show the pointer

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 reading of the spring when it is loaded with a
different load.

What is the value of M?

A 100g B 180g
C 200 g D 240g E 300g

9 Figure (a) and (b) show the two positions of a pin

when a spring is loaded with two different
weights.

What is the reading on the pin when 20 g of the

load in Figure (b) is removed.

A 5.00 cm B 10.00 cm
C 15.00 cm D 18.75 cm E
20.00 cm

10 The figure shows a load M supported by the

arrangements of springs, P, Q and R. All the
springs are identical.
P Q R

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 Which comparison is correct about the extension
of P,Q and R?

A P<Q<R B Q< R< P

C R< Q < P D Q< P< R

11 The figure shows two springs K and L having and

original length 5 cm each are connected in series
to a 400 g weight .
[ Spring K extends 2 cm when it is hung with a
200 g .
Spring L extends 3 cm when it is hung with a
100 g ]

What is the length of AB?

A 16 cm B 21 cm
C 23 cm D 24 cm
E 26 cm

12 Figure(a) shows a spring of length 10 cm

compressed to a length of 8 cm by a load of
20 N. Figure (b) shows five identical springs are
compressed by a load of 60 N to a length of L.

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 What is the value of L?

A 5 cm B 7 cm
C 9 cm D 13 cm
E 15 cm

13 Figure (a) shows two springs A and B having an

original length of 10 cm each are loaded with the
mass of 100 g and 200 g respectively.
Figure (b) shows the springs A and B are
arranged in series and it is loaded with the mass
of 300g.

What is the length of P?

A 55 cm B 100 cm
C 70 cm D 105 cm E 125 cm

14 Figure(a) shows a spring P extends by 5 cm when

it hung with a 0.5 kg weight. Figure (b) shows
four springs P are arranged in a system and it
hung with a 1.0 kg load.

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 What is the total extension of the spring system?

A 5.0 cm B 10.0 cm
C 15.0 cm D 20.0 cm
E 25.0 cm

15 Figure(a) shows a spring J extends to a certain

value when it hung with a 40 g weight. The
Figure (b) shows three springs K,L and M are
arranged in parallel extends to same value as
spring J when it hung with a weight P.

What is the value of P if the spring J,K,L and M

are identical springs.

A 60g B 80g
C 120g D 160g
E 200 g

16 Figure (a) and Figure (b) shows six identical

springs E, F, G, H, I, and J whose original length is
12 cm each.

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 What is the value of L?

A 26 cm B 28 cm C 30 cm
D 32 cm E 34 cm

17 A spring is compressed with a force of 300 N . If

the compression of the spring is 0.05 m, what is
the potential energy stored in the spring?

A 7.5 J B 15.0 J
C 3 000 J D 6000 J
E 12 000 J

18 The figure shows a spring having an original

length of 20 cm. When the spring is
compressed
by a steel ball of mass 0.1 kg, the length of the
spring becomes 14 cm. The steel ball moves up
at a height h when it is released.

What is the value of h ?

A 6 cm B 4 cm
C 3 cm D 2 cm
E 1 cm

19 Figure (a) shows a metal sphere of weight of

F N is placed atop a spring and it is found the
extension of the spring is x cm.
Figure (b) shows the graph F against x for the
spring.
When the extension of the spring is 20 cm , the
metal sphere is released.

What is the velocity of the metal sphere ?

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 A 1 ms –1 B 2 ms-1 C 3ms-1
D 4 ms-1 E 6ms-1

20 Figure (a) shows the arrangement of apparatus

to investigate the relationship between the
extension, x, of a spring and weight of load W.
The relationship between x and W is shown in
the graph in Figure (b).

Figure(a) Figure(b)
(a) State the S.I. unit for weight.

..............................................................
(b) Name the law that relates x and W.

.............................................................
(c) State the relationship between x and W.
............................................................
(d) State the physical quantity which can be
represented by the area below the graph
line.

............................................................

20 The figure shows a graph extension , x against

Force ,F for two springs A and B. The spring A
and B having an original length of 10 cm each.

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 (a) Based on the graph , state the relationship
between the extension, x and the force, F.

…………………………………………………
(b) State the law involved.

…………………………………………………
(c) What is the physical quantity is represented
by the gradient of the graph?

…………………………………………………
(d) Which of the spring is the most suitable to
measure the big force. Explain why?

………………………………………………

………………………………………………

(e) State two factors why the extension of the

spring A is different from the extension of
the spring B?

………………………………………………

………………………………………………
(f) Create an arrangement of the spring A and B
to get the extension of the spring system is
10 cm when a load of 10 N is hung.

21 Figure(a) shows the arrangement of apparatus in

an experiment to determine the relationship
between the extension e of a spring T with
weight W. The relationship of e with W is shown
in the graph in Figure(b).

Figure(a) Figure(b)

(a) A law states that;

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 The extension of a spring is directly
proportional to the force applied if the
elastic limit of the spring is not exceeded.
(i) Name this law

…………………………………….
(ii) Mark with a cross (x) the elastic
limit of the spring on the graph in
Figure (b).

(b) The spring stores energy when it is extended.

Calculate the energy stored in the spring
when it is extend by 4 cm.

(c) Another spring, identical to spring T , is

added to the arrangement in Figure(a). This
new arrangement is shown in Figure(c). The
experiment is the repeated.

Figure(c)
Sketch the graph of W against e for this
experiment on the graph in Figure (b).

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22 Figure (a) shows an archer shoots a target
Figure (b) the archer shoots the same target
but at different distance.

Observe the conditions of each

bow and the distance of the target from the
archer.
Based on the observations:

(a) State one suitable inference that can be

made.
(b) State one appropriate hypothesis for an
investigation.
(c) With the use of apparatus such as trolley,
ticker timer and other apparatus ,
describe an experimental framework to
test your hypothesis.
In your description , state clearly the
following:
(i) Aim of the experiment
(ii) Variables in the experiment
(iii) List of apparatus and materials

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(iv) Arrangement of the apparatus
(v) The procedure of the
experiment which include the
method of controlling the
manipulated variable and the
method of measuring the
responding variable.
(vi) Way you would tabulate the
data
(vii) Way you would analysis the
data

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