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F = ma (Final Problems)
Dimensional Analysis
FMA-2025-23 · 2025 F = ma (AAPT)

2025 F = ma Exam — Question 23

A student conducted an experiment to determine the spring constant of a spring using a ruler and two different weighing scales. The measured elongation of the spring was 1.5 cm, and the smallest division on the ruler was 1 mm. The mass of the attached weight was measured using two different scales in the school laboratory, yielding values of 198 g and 210 g. The student also found that the local acceleration due to gravity in her city is given as (9.806 ± 0.001) m/s2 . Calculate the percent error in measuring the spring constant.
Source: Question 23, 2025 F = ma Exam, © 2025 American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the U.S. Physics Team. Adapted by PhysicsTrainer: reformatted into a separate question and answer choices for online multiple-choice practice; any shared setup from nearby questions is repeated here. Not affiliated with or endorsed by AAPT or the U.S. Physics Team.