UNIVERSITY COLLAGE OF TECHNOLOGY SARAWAK

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

EEM3961
ENGINEERING LABORATORY 2
LABORATORY REPORT

LAB CODE:

EEM 3961

LAB NAME:

SPRING MASS SYSTEM

GROUP NO:

NAME:

JAYLE FRANCIS

ID NO:

BME 15090005

DATE OF EXPERIMENT:

30TH MARCH 2016

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

7TH MARCH 2016

LECTURER/INSTRUCTOR:

MS. TAHARAH

TABLE OF CONTENT:
Content
1.0 Objective
2.0 Theory

Page
1
1-2

3.0 Apparatus

4.0 Procedure

3-4

5.0 Result

5-7

6.0 Discussion

7.0 Conclusion

8.0 Reference

1.0 OBJECTIVE
1. To obtain the spring rate from the experimental data.
2. Obtain actual and theoretical frequencies of oscillation for a free system with
varying mass.

2.0 THEORY
a) Part 1
Stiffness (or spring rate) is defined as the force, or torque, per unit of corresponding
deformation. For example, in a simple tension member, the corresponding deformation
would be the extension produced by the tensile force so that;

Stiffness ( spring rate)

Tensile Force
Extension Pr oduced

The unit of stiffness in this case would be in N/m.

b) Part 2

Consider the elastic system represented by the spring of stiffness S and the
body of mass m , shown above.

If the mass is given a displacement x from the equilibrium position, the

restoring force due to the spring stiffness is Sx . When released, this force gives the
mass an acceleration a which is given by;

Sx ma
Thus, the acceleration is proportional to the displacement and is always directed
towards the equilibrium position so that the mass moves with simple harmonic
motion.
Thus, the periodic time is;
x
m
2

a
s

T 2

(1)

Where;
T

= Periodic Time (sec)

m = mass of hangar and any additional masses

s

= Spring stiffness or Spring rate (N/m)

The periodic time, T , is the time taken for one complete oscillation and is given
by;
T

1
f

(2)

Where;
f

= frequency of oscillation, Hz (Hertz), or number of cycles per second

Alternatively, equation 2 can be re-arranged to give;

f

1
T

(3)

3.0 APPARATUS
1. Mass spring apparatus
2. A set of weights
3. Measuring tape/Ruler

Figure 1: Mass Spring apparatus

4.0 PROCEDURE

Part 1:
1. The hangar assembly is weighted and its mass is recorded in Table 1.
2. The spring is attached to the HVT 12f Vibration frame and the hangar assembly is
suspended to the hangar clevis.

3. The unloaded length of the spring is measured using the measuring tape to the
nearest 1mm. The measurement is taken between the flat ends of the spring. The
length is recorded in Table 1 next to the NO LOAD condition.
4. A 100g mass is incrementally added to the load hangar and the new length of the
spring between the same two reference points as before is recorded. The new
length is recorded continuously until all the masses have been used.

Part 2:
1. Four 100g masses is kept onto the load hangar assembly.
2. The base of the load hangar is pulled down to a suitable distance using one hand,
with a stop watch on the other hand.
3. The stop watch is started at the instant the load hangar assembly is released and
the time for a full 10 oscillations is observed. The results is recorded into Table 2.
4. The number of masses on the load hangar is adjusted as desired and the
experiment is re-test. All results for each new test is recorded into Table 2.

5.0 RESULTS
Table 1:
Hangar

Added Mass,

Total Added

Total

Spring

Spring

Assembly

(kg)

Mass, (kg)

Applied

Extension,

extension,

Force, (N)

(mm)

(m)

Mass, (kg)
NO LOAD

0.1

(0)

0.1

278

0.278

0.1

0.2

0.3

283

0.283

0.2

0.3

0.5

286

0.286

0.3

0.4

0.7

289

0.289

0.4

0.5

0.9

292

0.292

0.5

0.6

0.11

295

0.295

0.6

0.7

0.13

299

0.299

0.7

0.8

0.15

303

0.303

0.8

0.9

0.17

307

0.307

Graph 1:

= slope of the graph

Gradient
=

y 2 y1
x 2 x1
8 2

0.032 0.010

= 272.727 N / m

Percentage error =

Experimental value Theoretica l value

100%
Theoretica l value
272.727 285
100%
285

= 4.31 %

Table 2:
Hangar

Added

Total

Time taken for

Actual

Theoretical

Assembly

Mass,

added

10 complete

Periodic

Periodic

Mass,

oscillations,

Time, T (s)

Time, T (s)

Mass,

(kg)

(kg)

(kg)

0.1

(s)

0.4

0.5

3.41

0.341

0.263

0.6

0.7

3.71

0.371

0.288

0.8

0.7

4.16

0.416

0.311

Frequency of oscillation,f

number of oscillation
time taken to complete the oscillation

10
3.59

= 2.785
Periodic time,T =

1
f
1
2.933

= 0.341

Percentage error =

Experimental value Theoretica l value

100%
Theoretica l value
0.341 0.263
100%
0.263

= 29.66 %

6.0 Discussions
For the first part of the experiment, the value of the gradient (spring rate) obtain
based on the experimental data is 272.727 N/m. Comparing to the manufacturers data
which is 285N/m, the percentage error between the two value is 4.31%, which is
considered minimal and is acceptable.
For the second part of the experiment, the frequency is obtained by dividing the
number of oscillation with the time taken to complete the oscillation, and the Periodic
time is obtained by using equation 2. When comparing the value of actual periodic with
the theoretical periodic time, the percentage error between both values is quite large,
which is at 29.66%. A further investigation is made and is concluded that there is error
that occur during the experiment.
One of the error is human error. For example, during the attempt to obtain the time
taken for the spring to make 10 complete oscillation, and inconsistent load hangar pull
distance can lead to the difference in data obtained.

7.0 Conclusion
By the end of the experiment, it is possible to get the spring rate value from the
experimental data, and also both the actual and theoretical frequencies of oscillation for a
free system of varying mass can be determined. However, the value for the actual and
theoretical frequencies differ due to error that occured during the experiment. All in all,
the experiment is a success.

8.0 References
1. Gere, J. M., & Goodno, B. J. (2013). Mechanics of materials 8th Edition. Stamford CT:
Cengage Learning.
2. Beer, F. P. (n.d.). Mechanics of materials 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education, 2 Penn
Plaza, New York.