1. A boy of mass 40kg sits at a point of 2.0m from the pivot of a seesaw.

Find the 
weight of a girl who can balance the seesaw by sitting at a distance of 3.2m from 
the pivot.  
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2. A very light rod 40cm long is pivoted at the centre. A weight of 50N is placed at 
one end. Where is the place to put a weight of 200N in order that the rod is in 
equilibrium? 
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3. Suppose d1 is 14 cm, w1 = mass of 52 g, d2 = 12 cm, w2 = mass of 60 g. Is it 
balanced?  

 
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4. A light metre rule is allowed to pivot freely at the zero end. The other end is 
supported by a spring balance. A weight of 200N is then hung at the 40cm mark. 
The metre rule stays horizontal. What is the reading on the spring balance? 

 
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5. Calculate the force needed to keep the leg in a horizontal position.  

 
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Deformation 
 
Content 
6.1 Elastic deformation 
 
Learning outcomes 
Candidates should be able to: 
(a) s
​ tate that a force may produce a change in size and shape of a body 
(b) plot, draw and interpret extension-load graphs for elastic solids and describe the associated 
experimental procedure 
 
Hooke's law states that t​ he extension is proportional to the applied load​, provided the limit of 
proportionality (elasticity limit) is not exceeded.

 
In this instance, the relationship between force and extension changes from being linear, or 
directly proportional, to being non-linear. 
 
Effect of force: i.) change in speed, ii). Change in direction, and iii). Change in shape 
 
Deformation is a change in shape due to an applied force. This can be a result of tensile 
(pulling) forces, compressive (pushing) forces, shear, bending or torsion (twisting).  
 
Elastic Deformation: This type of deformation is reversible. Once the forces are no longer 
applied, the object returns to its original shape. 
 
Plastic Deformation: This type of deformation is not reversible. However, an object in the plastic 
deformation range will first have undergone elastic deformation, which is reversible, so the 
object will return part way to its original shape 
 
Calculation 
The load (force) for every mass (100g) is found by using w=mg. 
The extension of the spring is the difference between its stretched and unstretched lengths. 
 
Extension and compression 
Extension happens when an object increases in length, and compression happens when it 
decreases in length. The extension of an elastic object, such as a spring, is described by 
Hooke's law: 
 
force = spring constant × extension F = k~e 
 
force (F) is measured in newtons (N) 
spring constant (k) is measured in newtons per metre (N/m) 
extension (e), or increase in length, is measured in metres (m) 
 
Spring constant (N/m) = ​Applied force or load (N) 
Extension(m) 
 

Energy stored in a spring 

Work is done when a spring is extended or compressed. Elastic potential energy is stored in the 
spring. Provided inelastic deformation has not happened, the work done is equal to the elastic 
potential energy stored. 
 
The elastic potential energy stored can be calculated using the equation: 
 
elastic potential energy = 0.5 × spring constant × (extension)2 
 
E​e​ = 1​​ /​2​ke​2 
 
This is when: 
 
elastic potential energy (Ee) is measured in joules (J) 
spring constant (k) is measured in newtons per metre (N/m) 
extension (e), referring to the increase in length, is measured in metres (m)   
Questions 
 
1. A force acts on a body. Which list contains only quantities that can be changed by the 
force?  
a. mass, shape, velocity  
b. mass, shape, volume  
c. mass, velocity, volume  
d. shape, velocity, volume  
 
2. Which object behaves as an elastic solid as it deforms?  
a. a bullet as it hits a solid metal wall   
b. a car damaged in a collision  
c. a piece of metal cut by a saw  
d. a football as it is kicked  
 
3. An extension-load graph is plotted to show the result of increasing the load on a spring. 
Which point marks the limit of proportionality for this spring? 

 
 
4. The diagram shows how the length of a spring changes when a load of 10N is hung on 
it. 

 
5. An extension-load graph for a wire is shown. 

 
6. A metal wire, initially 1.000m long, extends by 4mm when a load of 2N is added to it. 
What will the length of the wire be if a further 3 N is added, assuming it does not extend 
beyond its limit of proportionality?  
a. 1.060m  
b. 1.080m  
c. 1.010m  
d. 1.012m  
 
7. A spring extends by 4 cm when 10 N is suspended from it. Two of these springs are 
used as shown to carry a 30N load.  

 
8. Which property of a body cannot be changed if a force is applied to it?  
a. its mass  
b. its shape  
c. its size  
d. its velocity 
 9. A spring has a length of 9 cm when loaded with a 200 g mass. The extension-mass 
graph for the spring is shown.  

 
 
10. A 100 g mass is suspended from a spring next to a vertical metre rule. The top of the 
spring is level with the 0.0cm mark. The bottom of the spring is level with the 27.2cm 
mark.  

   
 11. A student applies a force of 6 N to a helical spring and it extends by 12 em. He then 
hangs the spring in parallel with an identical spring and attaches a load of 3 N as shown. 
The resulting extension of the system , in cm, will be 

A 3cm  B 4cm  C 6cm D 12cm 

 
12. A force of 3 N is applied to a spring. The spring stretches reversibly by 0.15 m -
the fact that the string stretches reversibly means that it will go back to its normal
shape after the force has been removed. Calculate the spring constant.
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13. A spring is compressed by 0.15 m. It has a spring constant of 80 N/m. Calculate

the elastic potential energy stored by the spring.
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14. A spring is fixed firmly in a vertical position. When a mass of 120.0 g is attached
to the spring it extends in length by 3.2 cm.
a. Assuming the gravitational field strength is 9.8 N/kg, calculate the spring
constant k.
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 b. Calculate the extra elastic potential energy stored in the spring as a result
of the added weight.
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c. If an extra 200 g mass is placed on the spring, how much longer will it
get?
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d. What force is needed to extend the spring by 30 cm?

= 
 
 
 
 
 
15. A spring with spring constant of 5.00 N/m is stretched for an extra 10.0 cm. How much 
extra energy is stored in the elastic potential energy store of the spring by this extension. 
= 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. A spring stores an extra 20 J of elastic potential energy when stretched an extra 40 cm. 
Calculate the spring constant.  
=