Quiz: Load Cell Physics Lab
1. What would happen to the measurement resolution (the precision of the measurements you can
make) if you were to do the following:
o
Use a stronger spring in this force sensor?
o
Use a shorter potentiometer?
o
Use a larger bit measurement system?
2. What is the equation for Hookes Law?
3. If it takes 10 lbs to stretch a spring by 1 inch, how much force does it take to stretch that spring a
total of 2 inches?
4. How do we define what a lb actually is?
Quiz: Load Cell Physics Lab Answer Key
1. What would happen to the measurement resolution (the precision of the measurements you can
make) if you were to do the following:
o
Use a stronger spring in this force sensor?
The resolution would go down. The total measureable force would go up.
o
Use a shorter potentiometer?
The resolution would go up. The total measureable distance would go down.
o
Use a larger bit measurement system?
The resolution would go up. Larger bit measurement systems are more expensive, of course.
2. What is the equation for Hooke’s Law?
F = k * X (F = - k * X also acceptable) Hooke’s law means that the force F needed to extend or
compress a spring by some distance X is proportional to that distance. That is: F = kX, where k is a
constant factor characteristic of the spring: its stiffness, and X is small compared to the total possible
deformation of the spring.
3. If it takes 10 lbs to stretch a spring by 1 inch, how much force does it take to stretch that spring a
total of 2 inches?
F = k * X , 10 lbs = k * 1in, k = 10 lb/in, F = 10 lb/in * 2 inches, F = 20 lb
4. How do we define what a lb actually is?
According to the Weights and Measures Act of 1963, one Imperial pound is exactly
0.45359237 kilograms. The kilogram (kg) is the base unit of mass in the Metric system and is defined
as being equal to the mass of that chunk.