Masses and springs – basics

PhysicsForces & DynamicsAges 15–16

Hang masses on a spring one at a time and measure the extension at equilibrium across three screens: Stretch, Bounce and Lab. Students build a mass–extension table to discover that for the same spring mg/extension stays constant, watch damped oscillations on the Bounce screen, then use the Soft and Stiff springs of known spring constant to find the mass of a mystery object on the Lab screen. Adapted from the "Masses and Springs: Basics" simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder (CC BY 4.0); rewritten.

Lesson: Deformation of solids