Springs: load–extension graphs
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The teaching part (1 min) is free to watch. A free account opens the whole lecture: 1 worked example, 6 practice questions, 2 real past-paper questions with the answers explained, the mistakes that lose marks, the full-marks tip, a one-card summary and a quick quiz.
What this lecture covers
- Stretching a spring
- Extension
Read the transcript of the teaching part
Last time
Before we start: last time, in Friction, drag and terminal velocity, you learned these points. Here they are again on one card. Keep them in mind, because today builds on them.
Stretching a spring
Hang a mass on a spring, and it stretches. Hang a bigger mass, and it stretches more. There is a simple pattern, and it holds for springs, and for wires and elastic bands, up to a limit.
Extension
The extension of a spring is the increase in its length when a load is added. It is the new length minus the original length. A spring of original length ten centimetres stretched to fifteen centimetres has an extension of five centimetres. Always subtract the original length. The new length itself is not the extension.
How often it comes up
How often Cambridge has asked each part, counted by ExamYard from every past paper in its question bank: Springs and extension · Load–extension graphs and the limit of proportionality.
Chapter 1.5: Forces
- Balanced forces and F = ma 6 min
- Newton's third law 5 min
- Friction, drag and terminal velocity 5 min
- Thinking, braking and stopping distance 6 min
- Circular motion 5 min
- Springs: load–extension graphs 5 min
- Moments, balance and stability 5 min
Also for O Level Physics 5054
Which topics come up most in O Level Physics 5054 past papers, counted from every paper since 2004.