Spring Constant & Potential Energy

[Bonana]

Homework Statement

Problem - Find the following:
a. Potential energy in a fully compressed plastic spring.
b. Spring constant

This was a lab and we're supposed to do it at home, here are the variables I have measured:
spring height when not compressed: 0.115 metres.
spring height when completely compressed: 0.0450 metres
mass of spring: 0.0148kg

Homework Equations

Hookes Law:
Ep = 1/2kx^2
Fs = mg

The Attempt at a Solution

The answers we got seemed extremely low.
A)1/2(2/074N/m)(0.07m)^2 = 0.00508J
B)(0.0148kg)(9.81m/s^2)/0.07m = 2.074N/m


Any help would be great.

 

[Segala]

Dear Bonana,
could you tell a bit about the setup of the experiment? How did the spring get compressed: by an external force or by its own weight?

 

[ehild]

Homework Statement

Problem - Find the following:
a. Potential energy in a fully compressed plastic spring.
b. Spring constant

This was a lab and we're supposed to do it at home, here are the variables I have measured:
spring height when not compressed: 0.115 metres.
spring height when completely compressed: 0.0450 metres
mass of spring: 0.0148kg

Homework Equations

Hookes Law:
Ep = 1/2kx^2
Fs = mg

The Attempt at a Solution

The answers we got seemed extremely low.
A)1/2(2/074N/m)(0.07m)^2 = 0.00508J
B)(0.0148kg)(9.81m/s^2)/0.07m = 2.074N/m


Any help would be great.

If these are the measured data, the results are correct. It can be a weak spring.

ehild