calibrating a high-precision tension spring designed for a robotic docking clamp.","difficulty":4,"difficultyBand":"easy","totalMarks":2,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"cd704e2b-409c-4d6d-a1d7-08a3d4e0188e","label":null,"content":"Describe the experimental procedure the technician should follow to accurately determine the extension of the spring when a series of known tensile loads are applied.","markscheme":"- Measure the unstretched (original) length of the spring before any load is applied (using a suitable measuring instrument). B1\n- Measure the new (extended) length of the spring under each applied load, and calculate the extension by subtracting the original length from this extended length. B1","marks":2,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":{"methods":[{"id":"measure_extension","label":"Measure the extension","steps":[{"type":"text","order":0,"title":"Measure the original length","content":"Before applying any load, use a ruler to measure the spring's unstretched (original) length. Keep the ruler's zero aligned with the same fixed point on the spring each time. This records the starting length and earns B1.","highlights":[{"text":"extension of the spring","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"text","order":1,"title":"Measure each loaded length","content":"Apply one known tensile load at a time. For each load, measure the new, extended length of the same spring from the same fixed reference point.","highlights":[{"text":"known tensile loads","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"hyper_latex","block":{"nodes":[{"latex":"L_0=\\text{original length}"},{"latex":"L=\\text{extended length under a load}"},{"latex":"x=L-L_0"}]},"order":2,"title":"Calculate the extension","description":"For each load, subtract the original length from the length while that load is applied. Measuring the extended length for each load and making this subtraction earns B1."}]}],"generatedAt":"2026-07-22T12:08:24.522Z","modelVersion":"gpt-5.6-terra+diagrams-1","explanationVersion":"v3"},"options":[]}],"options":[],"explanation":null,"firstAttemptFullMarks":null},{"id":"6ef9146f-61cb-4d8a-abc9-a36c2e399e6f","revisionId":"03a2fb30-2dce-4367-ab80-bced55673d8c","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"LA","specification":"A tension spring in a high-precision optical mount is stretched by a force of $1.12\\text{ N}$.\nThe extension of the spring is $0.016\\text{ m}$.","difficulty":3,"difficultyBand":"easy","totalMarks":3,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"6038d0e5-4e32-4a82-97c3-3ee2b55bd02e","label":null,"content":"Calculate the spring constant, $k$, of the spring and state the unit.\n\nUse the equation:\n$$F = k \\times e$$","markscheme":"- Correct substitution into the equation: $1.12 = k \\times 0.016$ or correct rearrangement: $k = \\frac{1.12}{0.016}$ M1\n- Calculates the correct numerical value: $70$ A1\n- States the correct unit: $\\text{N/m}$ (or $\\text{N m}^{-1}$) B1","marks":3,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":{"methods":[{"id":"hookes_law","label":"Rearrange Hooke's law","steps":[{"type":"text","order":0,"title":"Identify the quantities","content":"The force is $F=1.12\\text{ N}$ and the extension is $e=0.016\\text{ m}$. We need the spring constant $k$.\n\nThe extension is already in metres, so no unit conversion is needed.","highlights":[{"text":"The extension of the spring is $0.016\\text{ m}$.","location":"specification"}]},{"type":"hyper_latex","block":{"nodes":[{"latex":"F=ke"},{"latex":"\\htmlData{anchor=force}{1.12}=k\\times\\htmlData{anchor=extension}{0.016}"}],"highlights":[{"color":"sky","anchor":"force"},{"color":"sky","anchor":"extension"}]},"order":1,"title":"Substitute the values","description":"Put the given force and extension into the equation. This earns the substitution mark, even before calculating."},{"type":"hyper_latex","block":{"nodes":[{"latex":"1.12 = k \\times \\htmlData{anchor=extension}{0.016}"},{"latex":"k = \\frac{1.12}{\\htmlData{anchor=divisor}{0.016}}"},{"latex":"\\

Forces and springs

Question 14

Forces and springs Questions

Forces and springs

Question 14

Forces and springs Questions