Answer to Question #287139 in Physics for Scott

Question

In an experiment to determine the energy stored in a stretched spring, a spiral spring was suspended from a properly mounted retort stand. A mass hanger was suspended on the free end of the spring and different masses added to the hanger. The hanger was gently pulled backwards and released to set I into vertical oscillations. For each mass, the average time for ten vibrations was taken and presented as shown in the data below.

MASS(g) Averagetimetaken for ten

50.0 5.80

70.0 6.80

90.0 7.80

110.0 8.60

130.0 9.20

Period,T(s)

T2(*10-3 s)

Answer 1

From the given set of data, we can find the spring constant, and we need the mass to do it. Then the energy can be found by a common equation

$$E=\dfrac 12kx^2.$$