Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Hooke's Law Experiment


HOOKE'S LAW BLOG                                                     Donna Jones (25264532)

AIM

This experiment was designed to analyse one set of given results, showing deformation in a  material, after having numerous forces applied to it. The investigation involved calculating the results of two additional unknown materials, and to determine whether or not they reach their known elastic limits, under an applied force.

INTRODUCTION


The definition of Hooke’s Law and Young’s Modulus from the Collins English Dictionary are as follows;

 Hooke's law
(Physics / General Physics) the principle that the stress imposed on a solid is directly proportional to the strain produced, within the elastic limit

[Named after Robert Hooke (1635-1703), English physicist, chemist, and inventor]

Young's modulus
(Physics / General Physics) a modulus of elasticity, applicable to the stretching of a wire etc., equal to the ratio of the applied load per unit area of cross section to the increase in length per unit length. Symbol E

[Named after Thomas Young (1773-1829), English physicist, physician, and Egyptologist]

Hooke’s Law states that a force applied on a material is relative to the strain on that material, and it will often cause deformation. Young’s Modulus is a ratio of stress given by the force applied, over the strain received, and is used as a vital part of this principle. These have been calculated through experiments over the years and have been tabulated to give individual Modulus of Elasticity figures for each material. The Young's Modulus formula may then be used to calculate the strain as shown.

Equation 1.
 
When calculating results there is a certain time where the stress is proportional to the strain and when the force is removed, the material will return to its original state. This is called the elastic region. If the force applied takes the material passed its own Young’s Modulus; this means it has passed the elastic point and it can no longer return to its original form. Here it may stretch in the plastic region, and if enough force is administered it may eventually snap. These ranges depend upon the material tested. In this graph we can see these different states.
                                                                                                     Fig 1.
                                            Stress/Strain Curve - Hooke’s Law only used for up to the elastic limit


In practice, using a spring for example; Hooke’s Law uses the force applied (F) divided by the Young’s Modulus (E) of the material, to give the new length (extension) of the spring (X) as in the equation shown:      
In this instance it is common to use the constant K instead of E for Young’s Modulus. (F = KX)

METHOD

The apparatus is set up as follows;


A metal rod set into a base with an arm attached to the top. This hangs the spring and a stretch indicator hangs from the bottom of the spring. The indicator is aligned with the zero on the scale. As a mass increment (X) is hung from the bottom of the indicator, the spring will stretch and the new length recorded (Y1).

 
RESULTS
In this experiment, three materials were tested and results for any deformations or new lengths were given as shown below.

 
Table 1.
The x values show the force applied in Newton's whereby the Y1, Y2 and Z values show the deformation in mm.
The results were given directly for material one in the figures tabulated above and the second and third materials were calculated by use of two algebraic simultaneous equations, in excel. These workings are displayed in Fig 2.
 
 

Fig 2. 
These results were then plotted onto graphs using excel (shown below).
 
 
 

Graph 1.
 
 


Graph 2.




CONCLUSION

Analyses of the results of the new extensions, due to the X forces being applied, give two straight line graphs and one curved graph. Not having the materials used for each spring or the results as each passes the ‘elastic limit’ means certain presumptions must be made.

Clearly the first two materials (Y1 & Y2) have shown a straight line, thereby proving that these forces (1-9 Newton's) have not caused enough stress to push the materials passed their individual elastic limits.

The third material (Z), does not have a straight line at all, thereby proving that the strain on this material does not proportionally coincide with the stress caused by the forces. This means it does not follow Hooke’s Law. This gives reason to believe that it has passed the materials own elastic limit, and has ventured into a plastic state. This means that the material will not return to its original state. Too much force applied would cause the material to fracture and break.



REFERENCES
Hooke’s Law Definition  [Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged]   HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003  
Hooke’s Law  Atanackovic, Teodor M.; Guran, Ardéshir (2000). "Hooke's law". Theory of elasticity for scientists and engineers. Boston, Mass.: Birkhäuser. p. 85
Young’s Modulus Definition  [Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged]   HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
Young’s Modulus   Young, Thomas (1845). Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts. London: Taylor and Walton.
Apparatus Image sourced from - www.batesville.k12.in.us
 
            
"I am aware of the requirements of good academic practice and the potential penalties for any breaches".                                                         
 
 

 
 

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