TI-Nspire™ Activities: Physics

In this activity, students determine the spring constant for a spring oscillating horizontally. First, they examine a simulation of a horizontal spring-mass system. They observe the relationship between the restoring force and the displacement of the mass.

Students capture the values of displacement and restoring force for various spring displacements.

Finally, students plot restoring force vs. displacement and use a Movable Line to determine the approximate spring constant for the spring.