LAB #6
Date: February 16, 2023
TITLE:
Spring- Mass System
THEORY:
Simple harmonic motion (SHM) results when a body displaced from its equilibrium position
is acted on by a restoring force, F, that is always proportional and in the opposite direction to
its displacement from that equilibrium position. A simple harmonic oscillator consists of a
mass attached to one end of a spring. The other end of the spring is attached to a rigid
support. When the mass is displaced, by a small distance, from the equilibrium position, the
restoring force exerted by the spring is given by
F=−kx (1)
where x is displacement and k is the spring constant.
From Newton’s Second Law we know that,
F=ma (2)
Where m is the mass and a is the acceleration.
Substituting equation (2) into equation (1) we get,
−kx
a= (3)
m
SHM is defined by
2
a=−ω x (4)
From this we can see that
ω=
√k
m
(5)
The time taken to complete one oscillation, the period, T, is given by
2π
T= (6)
ω
By substituting equation (5) in equation (6) we get an expression for the period of a simple
pendulum,
T =2 π
√ m
k
(7)
Placing the equation in the form y=mx+c
2
2 4π
T = m+0 (8)
k
If we plot T2 along the y-axis and the m along the x-axis, we will get a straight line passing
through the origin, with
2
4π
gradient= (9)
k
AIM:
To investigate Simple Harmonic Motion in the ‘small amplitude’ oscillations of a spring-
mass system.
APPARATUS:
Retort Stand, 2 Identical Spiral Springs, Masses, Stopwatch.
PROCEDURE:
1. A spring was suspended from the retort stand and hung a mass of 200 grams from it.
2. A small vertical displacement was given, and the time taken for 20 oscillations was
recorded.
3. This was repeated for 7 other values of mass.
4. Results were tabulated.
5. A graph of T2 vs mass was plotted.
6. Gradient of the graph was found, and the value of spring constant k was found.
7. 2 springs in series were suspended from the retort stand and a mass hung from it.
8. The time for 20 oscillations was determined (t20), then the period T was found.
2
4π
9. Using T 2= m+0 , the value of ks was determined of the 2 springs in series.
k
10. This was repeated with 2 springs in parallel and kp was obtained.
RESULTS:
TABLE SHOWING THE PERIOD OF A SPRING MASS SYSTEM FOR VARIOUS
MASSES
Time for 20
Mass, Period, T T2
Run oscillations, t20
Kg (s) (s2)
t1 t2 avg
10.0
1 0.25 10.26 10.13 0.51 0.26
0
13.0
2 0.35 12.41 12.71 0.64 0.41
2
14.7
3 0.45 14.44 14.60 0.73 0.53
6
16.1
4 0.55 16.28 16.19 0.81 0.66
1
18.5
5 0.65 18.54 18.54 0.93 0.86
5
19.0
6 0.75 18.66 18.83 0.94 0.88
0
20.5
7 0.85 20.36 20.47 1.02 1.04
8
22.3
8 0.95 21.97 22.15 1.10 1.21
3
TABLE SHOWING THE PERIOD OF A SPRING MASS SYSTEM FOR TWO SPRINGS
IN SERIES AND PARALLEL
Orientation Mass (kg) T20 (s) T (s) T2 (s2)
t1 t2 avg
Series 0.35 19.2
19.45 19.37 0.97 0.94
8
Parallel 0.45 10.5
10.36 10.46 0.52 0.27
6
Calculations:
1. The gradient = 4π2 (0.35) ÷ 0.97
y 2− y 1 = 14.24 kgs-2
m=
x 2−x 1
1.0−0.4 4. Value of kp
m=
0.83−0.33
kp= 4π2m ÷T2
0.6 = 4π2 (0.45) ÷ 0.27
m=
0.5
= 1.2s2Kg-1
= 65.79 kgs-2
2. Spring constant (k) 5. Proving that kp/k = 2
4π2
m=
k
kp ÷ k = 2
4π2 =65.79 ÷ 32.89
Therefore, k= = 2.00
m
4π2
k=
1.2
= 32.89 kgs-2 6. Proving that k/ks = 2
3. Value of ks k ÷ ks = 2
= 32.89 ÷ 14.24
ks = 4π2m ÷T2 = 2.30
~2
DISCUSSION
The Spring constant (k) will remain unchanged even if the experiment is carried out on the
moon, where the acceleration caused by gravity is one-sixth that on the earth.
It is a "constant," as the name suggests, and when written using the formula:
T =2 π
√m
k
It can be concluded that mass is the only variable that affects the period. If mass
increases, then the period increases. If mass decreases, the period decreases.
Analysing equation 3, a graph of T against m is plotted.
2
2 4π m
T =
k
This equation can be compared to
T =2 π
√ m
k
y = c + mx, Where T represents y, c represents 2π, m represents k, m represents x.
The slope of this graph would be T/kg, which would give units skg-1.
When the values for Ks and Kp were calculated, they were compared by division to see if they
would be equal to 2. Ks was 2.30 kgs-2 and kp was 2.00 kgs-2.
The comparison in the equation was:
k kp
= =2
ks k
Precautions:
1. Ensure mass oscillates in one plane.
2. Ensure the springs are not defective or stretched out.
Source of error:
1. Environmental Error: Ensure doors and windows in the experiment to prevent
external effects on the results of the period.
2. Instrumental Error: the springs attached may have exceeded their proportional limit
and are stretched out.
Limitation:
1. Reaction Time: starting the stopwatch or delaying in stopping it which may produce a
result far from the true value.
Conclusion: The experiment showed that the period depends on the mass and that the
relationship between period and tension is inverse (When Tension increases, Time decreases
and when Tension decreases, Time increases). The spring constant K reduces when springs
are arranged in series, but it increases when they are arranged in parallel.
