Title: Natural Frequency of spring mass system without damping
Abstract
The free vibration experiment was conducted to determine the value for spring constant and
natural frequency. The experiment was conducted as instructed in the procedure and 2 types of
curve were plotted. In this experiment, we have found out stiffness and natural frequency of the
system theoretically and experimentally. The response of the spring mass system for a small
initial disturbance is observed. The agreement between theoretical and experimental values was
observed in case of any error.
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List of Figures
No Figure Page
1 Figure 1: The experiment setup theory
2 Figure 2: The apparatus setup
3 Figure 4: The student located the pen
4 Figure 5: The student placed the weight
5 Figure 6: The data that was recorded
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List of table and graph
No Table Page
1 Table 3: The list of tools and apparatus
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Objective
1. To determine the spring constant (k)
2. Determine the natural frequency (f)
3. To help the student in term of understanding the Dynamic syllabus.
Introduction
Free vibration occurs when a system oscillates under the influence of forces inherent in the
system itself due to initial disturbance, and when externally applied forces are absent. The
system will oscillates about one of its static-equilibrium positions. Basically there are two types
of systems. They are the discrete and continuous systems. In discrete systems, the physical
properties are discrete quantities and the system behaviour is described by ordinary differential
equations. The system has finite number of degrees-of-freedom whereas in the case of
continuous system the physical properties are function of spatial co-ordinates and the system
behavior is described by partial differential equations and has infinite number of degrees-of-
freedom. In other words, a system can be considered as discrete in which the whole mass of the
system is lumped at some points and in case of continuous system the mass is distributed over
the entire length of the system. An n-degrees-of-freedom system is governed by n coupled
differential equations and has n natural frequencies. So the discrete system has finite number of
natural frequencies whereas the continuous system has infinite number of natural frequencies.
The system under free vibration will vibrate at one or more of its natural frequencies, which are
properties of the dynamical system, established by its mass and stiffness distribution. A free
vibration is used to measure the properties of a system which in this experiment is to calculate
the spring constant and the natural spring frequency. It is of essence that the dynamical
properties of an engineering system need to be measured such as natural frequency and damping
coefficient for a structure after it has been built. This is to make sure that design predictions were
correct and can be used in future models of the system. Free vibration can respond to this.
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Theory
On this experiment we had used Hooke’s law as our guide for this experiment. Hooke’s Law
states that the extension of a spring is in direct proportion with the load added, as long as it does
not exceed the spring’s elastic limit. It is applicable to linear-elastic materials.
Spring constant
Spring constant is the one of the characteristic which is to indicate the relationship between the
spring load and the deflection of the spring that exist when the load had exit on it. Between the
deflections of the spring we can calculate the spring constant which is “k”. to find the value of
spring constant , we had used some formula which is
F=KX
F= force
K= Spring constant
X = the length of the spring deflection
Figure 1: The experiment setup theory
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This equation had given the relation between the spring load “F” and the spring deflection
whichis “X”. For this experiment we had to find the value of the spring constant, because spring
constant is our objective. We had use this formula to find the spring constant for the theoretical
value.
W −Fs=m ẍ ∑ F=ma
W =mg=kd
Fs=k ( x +dst )
W = Weight
M = mass F = force
K = spring constant a = acceleration
Dst = Deflection of stating spring
Experimental value for this experiment we had used another formula which is the spring constant
we can get it all the whole experiment.
k = (m1 - m0)g
x1- x0
Where,
x0 = initial extension m0 = initial mass
x1 = final extension m1 = final mass
As a check on linearity, the measured values can be plot on a load – extension curve
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Natural oscillation
Natural oscillation or free oscillator refers to the normal vibration of an uninfluenced oscillatory
system. If an oscillator is displaced it will begin to vibrate. This system no more external forced
is applied towards it. It is initially deflected out of its equilibrium position and then oscillates
about this until it is brought to rest by any external or internal damping.
Undamped oscillation - Equation of motion
The equation of motion involves establishing equilibrium of force at the mass
∑ F=−kx+ mg=mx
F ma
mg Fs mx
mg k (se x) mx
mg kse kx mx
Before we get the value of frequency “F” we need used this equation to get the value of f
m ẍ + kx=0
By using Standard second order
ẍ +Wn2 x=0
The result will be obtain
k
x+ x =0
m
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Solving the equation gives harmonic oscillations with natural angular frequency ‘ω’ or natural
frequency ‘f’.
Where x = 0 defines the equilibrium position of the mass
k k
x A sin t B cos t
m m
k
Where the term is m the angular natural frequency defined by
k
n
m Rad/sec
The sinusoidal oscillation of the mass repeats continuously, and the time interval to complete one
cycle is the period
2π
τ=
ωn
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Tool and apparatus
5 6
Figure 2: The apparatus setup
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No Name
1 Spring
2 Carriage
3 Mechanical recorder
4 Guide column
5 Base
6 Load
Table 3: The list of tools and apparatus
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Procedure
a. To determine the spring constant (K)
1. The pen was located on the position
Figure 4: The student located the pen
2. The weight was removed from the carriage
3. The carriage was set on 20mm line on chart paper by using adjuster.
4. The weight was placed on the load spring
Figure 5: The student placed the weight
5. The data was recorded after the weight was added
6. Step 4 was repeated with the adding weight for 2kg, 4kg, 6kg, 8kg, 10kg
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b. To determine natural frequency (f)
1. The mechanical recorder was set up at the center of the graph using adjuster
2. The carriage weight without additional mass was pressed till the end.
3. Then, released it at same time the button was pressed until at least 10 oscillations
recorded at the graph paper.
Figure 6: The data that was recorded
4. Step 2 to 3 was repeated with 2kg, 4kg, 6kg, 8kg, and 10kg.
5. The data was taken from the graph paper.
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Result
Table 7: Table below shows the result of experiment to get the spring constant, (K)
Spring constant, (K) = 1.78 N/mm
Mass (kg) Force (N) Extension (mm) Deflection (mm)
0 0 0 0
2 19.62 12 12
4 39.24 22 10
6 58.86 34 12
8 78.48 45 11
10 98.10 56 11
Figure 8: The figure shows the graph of force (N) against the extension (mm)
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Table 9: Table below shows the result from the experiment to get the frequency, (f)
Experimental Theoretical
Mass (kg) Additional Difference
mass (kg) Displacement Frequency Frequency (%)
of T10 (mm) (Hz) (Hz)
1.25 0 35.00 5.71 5.88 3.00
3.25 2 55.00 3.63 3.65 0.57
5.25 4 70.00 2.85 2.87 0.69
7.25 6 83.50 2.39 2.44 2.05
9.25 8 95.00 2.10 2.16 2.77
11.25 10 103.0 1.94 1.96 1.02
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