Stretching springs | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Somebody slides down a slide. What force is causing them to speed up as they slide?
- gravitational ✓
- friction
- tension
- air resistance
Somebody slides down a slide. What two forces are opposing the motion as they slide?
- gravitational
- friction ✓
- tension
- air resistance ✓
Which of the following can a force do to an object?
- Make it speed up. ✓
- Make it slow down. ✓
- Decrease its mass.
- Change its shape. ✓
Some masses are placed on a balance. Which force acts downwards on the masses?
- upthrust
- friction
- gravitational ✓
- tension
The image shows a newton meter which has a spring inside it. Why is a spring used in the newton meter?
- The spring stops the hook from moving.
- The spring stretches more when there is a larger force on it. ✓
- The spring stretches less when there is a larger force on it.
- The spring makes the meter strong enough to hold things.
The picture shows a steel paperclip on some thread being attracted by a magnet. The paperclip is stationary. Which statements must be true?
- There is an upwards magnetic force acting on the paperclip. ✓
- The downwards gravitational force is equal to the upwards magnetic force.
- There is downwards force on the paperclip due to tension in the thread. ✓
- The tension in the thread is equal to the upwards magnetic force.
- The upwards and downwards forces are equal so there is no resultant force. ✓

Exit quiz

Match the key words and phrases to their explanation.
- extension
  
  ⇔
  
  The change in length of an object when a force acts on it. ✓
- gravitational force
  
  ⇔
  
  A force that pulls objects downwards due to their mass. ✓
- hanging masses
  
  ⇔
  
  Metal discs used to produce forces on a spring. ✓
- mass hanger
  
  ⇔
  
  This is used to attach masses to the end of a spring. ✓
A spring is 10 cm long when there is no force on it. What is its length when it has been extended by 5 cm?
- 5 cm
- 10 cm
- 15 cm ✓
- 20 cm
Which of these allows the readings from a ruler to be used to measure the extension of a spring directly?
- Only use small forces to stretch the spring.
- Line up the ruler's zero with the bottom of the unloaded spring. ✓
- Line up the ruler's zero with the top of the unloaded spring.
- Line up the ruler's zero with the top of the fully loaded spring.
The table shows the results of an experiment to find out how a spring extends. How do the results show that the measurements have been made accurately?
- Only small forces have been used.
- Repeat measurements have been made.
- The extensions are all below 30 cm.
- The loading and unloading measurements match closely. ✓
The table shows the results of an experiment to find out how a spring extends. Which statements can be made from the results?
- The force causes the spring to stretch. ✓
- The spring gets longer each time 1 N is added. ✓
- All springs stretch the same way each time 1 N is added.
- One value seems to be an anomaly. ✓
- All springs stretch the same amount each time 1 N is added.
The table shows how a spring extends. The spring was originally 10 cm long. Use the results to predict the length of the spring when a force of 10 N is acting on the spring.
- 10 cm
- 15 cm
- 25 cm
- 35 cm ✓
- 100 cm

Worksheet

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Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Applying a force to a spring will make it extend (stretch).
A range of masses suspended on a mass holder will produce constant and measurable forces on a spring.
A set square ensures measuring scales are vertical.
Diagrams show how equipment should be set up.

Common misconception

The length of the spring is equal to the extension of the spring.

Focus on the fact that forces cause the length of the spring to change and pupils are measuring the size of that change.

Keywords

Extension - The extension of a spring is the change in length.
Gravitational force - Masses will have a gravitational force that pulls them downwards.
Hanging masses - Hanging masses (weights) can be used to put a known force onto a spring.
Mass hanger - A mass hanger can be attached to a spring; adding masses to it causes the spring to stretch in a controlled way.