CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Physics 212-14 / Section 14- 34514

Masses on Springs: Simple Harmonic Motion

Prepared by: Faustino Corona,

Noe Rodriguez,
Rodney Pujada,
Richard Lam

Performance Date: Tuesday,March 30, 2016

Submission Due: Tuesday, April 6, 2016
Professor: Ryan Andersen
Wednesday: 6:00 pm. 8:30 p.m.

April 2016

Experiment No 1: Masses on Springs: Simple Harmonic Motion

I.

II.

ABSTRACT:

To study how the simple harmonic motion work by analyzing its repetitive
motion and determine its mathematical solution by using a spring.
INTRODUCTION

I. When we look at a spring under some sort of tension, the force of the spring can be applied to
this formula which k represents the springs constant.
F= -kx
This formula is called Hookes Law. Hookes Law states when a spring is stretch, it is
directly proportional to the force that is doing so.
The graph as long as the spring can return to its original shape without being deform. The
formula
is
relevant.
Another
to
write
the
formula
is.

mg=ks
In Newtons 2nd law, the equation of motion mass is
k(s-x)-mg= md2xdt2
And by combining the last two formula we get
d2xdt2+kmx = 0

III.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The equipment used in this experiment is a meter stick, a spring, a set of weights ranging from 10
grams to 200 grams, and a stopwatch. The spring is hanging parallel to the meter stick in order to
measure its displacement. To measure the timing uncertainty, time two periods using moderate
amplitude several times. The uncertainty calculated was 0.07s.

For part A, hang a weight from the spring and time 10 periods for small, medium, and large
amplitudes. These measurements will determine the period for each amplitude. For Part B, use 5
different masses and measure the period for each mass using the same technique used in part A. For
part C, use a scale to weigh the masses used and the mass of the spring. Finally, for part D, hang a 50
gram weight to the spring and measure its displacement. Our reading uncertainty for displacement
measurements was 1.0cm. Gradually add more weight and measure the displacement at equilibrium
for each weight. Continue to add weights and collect measurements until the spring is stretched to
100 times the reading uncertainty.

IV.

DATA AND ANALYSIS

4.1. CALCULATION OF THE PERIOD OF OSCILLATION

DATA TABLE 1
Item
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Period 5
Average
period of
oscillation

Value
(second)
1.73
2.37
2.65
2.6
2.22
2.31

DATA TABLE 2
Item
Mass of the spring

Value
0.0335 kg

Effective mass of the spring (one-third mass of the spring)

0.026 kg

Mass of the hanging mass

0.500 kg

Mass, m (hooked mass plus effective mass of the spring)

0.526 kg

4.2. DETERMINE THE PERIOD FOR SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE

AMPLITUDES

DATA TABLE 4
Displacement
(cm)
1
5
12

Displaceme
nt (m)
0.01
0.05
0.12

T (seconds)

No Cycles

10.61
10.62
10.69

10
10
10

Graph Period vs displacement

Displacemen
t (m)
0.01
0.05
0.12

Period (T)
1.061
1.062
1.069

Graph No 1 Period vs displacement

Period
(T)
1.061
1.062
1.069

4.3. Graph T2 Vs Mass

DATA TABLE 5
Item

Time
(second)
6.94
12.4
11.41
6.82
10.78

T1
T2
T3
T3
T4
Average
period of
9.67
oscillation
Amplitude = 3 cm = 0.03 m

Mass ( Kg)
0.05
0.713
0.1417
0.0443
0.2771

Mass of spring
33.5 g

DATA TABLE 6 :
T
Period
Mass
No Cycles
Mass (Kg)
(seconds)
(T)
(grams)
6.94
10
0.694
50.0
0.050
12.4
10
1.24
173.0
0.173
11.41
10
1.141
141.7
0.142
6.82
10
0.682
44.3
0.044
10.28
10
1.078
127.1
0.127
If the mass is pulled so that the spring is stretched beyond its equilibrium
(resting) position, the restoring force of the spring will cause an acceleration
back toward the equilibrium position of the spring, and the mass will oscillate in
simple harmonic motion. The period of vibration, T, is defined as the amount of
time it takes for one complete oscillation, and for the system described above
is:

where me is the equivalent mass of the system, that is, the sum of the mass, m,
which hangs from the spring and the spring's equivalent mass, me-spring, or

Note that me-spring is not the actual mass of the spring, but is the equivalent
mass of the spring. It is not the actual mass because not all of the mass pulls
down to act in concert with the weight pulling down. Its theoretical value for our
system should be approximately 1/3 of the actual mass of the spring.
Substituting equation 4 into equation 3 and squaring both sides of the equation
yields:

Therefore, if we perform an experiment in which the mass hanging at the end of

the spring (the independent variable) is varied and measure the period squared
(T2 ; the dependent variable), we can plot the data and fit it linearly. Comparing
equation 5 to the equation for a straight line (y = mx + b), we see that the
slope and y-intercept, respectively, of the linear fit is:

We calculate T2 and graphing

Period (T)
0.682
0.694
1.078
1.141
1.24

Mass (Kg)
0.044
0.050
0.127
0.142
0.173

T2
0.465
0.482
1.162
1.302
1.538

Where the slope is 8.5445 . Therefore 8.5445 = 4 2 / K

K = 4.62
Newton/meter

4.4. DETERMINE K CONSTANT

DATA TABLE 7
Mass (kg)
X ( cm )
0.05
70.5
0.06
72.5
0.07
74.5
0.08
76.5
0.09
78.5
0.10
81.5
0.12
85
0.15
91.5
0.20
102
0.25
113
0.30
123.5
0.40
144.5
5.00
176.5
Amplitude = 3 cm = 0.03 m

X (m)
0.705
0.725
0.745
0.765
0.785
0.81
0.85
0.915
0.102
0.113
0.1235
0.1445
0.1765
Mass of spring
33.5 g

F = kx
f = 0
Mg = Kx
Therefore: K = mg / X
For mass 0.05 Kg
We multiply by 9.8 m/s2 : (0.05 Kg) (9.8 m/s2 ) = 0.49 N
Graph No 3: Determine K constant
X (m)

mg
( Newton)

0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.11
0.145
0.21
0.315
0.425
0.53
0.74
1.06

0.588
0.686
0.784
0.882
0.98
1.176
1.47
1.96
2.45
2.94
3.92
4.9

By the graph we determine K = 4.2971 Newton/meter

K = 4.2971
Newton/meter
4.5 Calculate the percent of error
We appreciate the part 2 by the graph T2 vs mass and the calculation for K
constant has more precision in their measurement and our calculation shows
less and less uncertainty for each experiment..
Calculate the percent of error:
Percent error = ( Dpractical Dtheoric) x 100 %
1
D theoric

formula

Data:
K= 4.62 Newton/meter ( graph T2 vs mass)
K = 4.2971 Newton/meter ( by the graph force vs mass)
Using the formula No 1 to evaluate percent of error.
Percent error = (4.62 - 4.30) x 100 % = 7.44 %
4.30

Percent error =
7.44 %

V.

RESULTS
This experiment has three parts: Our first experiment show us the period of the spring was measured
as amplitude changed while mass remained constant. The period remained nearly the same
throughout every trial, which was to be expected. Any differences in period may be accounted to
inadequate stopwatch usage and inaccurate starting displacements throughout the trials that can
appreciate in Graph No 1.
In our second part we calculate K constant by Graph
Newton/meter by the slope slope = 42 / K.

T2 Vs Mass that make a K

= 4.62

During part three of the experiment, the vertical displacement of a spring was measured as a function
of force applied to it. Mass was added to the spring, and the displacement was recorded. This was
repeated with various amounts of mass. From these data, a graph of force versus displacement was
plotted, and a linear fit slope revealed the spring constant. In this endeavor, the spring constant was
valued at 4.30 N/m.

VI.

CONCLUSIONS

From the results of our experiment we can observe that in the insistence of Period
(Time) vs. Amplitude we notice that no matter if you stretch it 1cm or 12cm the Period
would be fairly similar. This dependence since timing is a big factor when doing this
experiment thats why I said fairly similar because of the time issue and measurements. But
when you observe the experiment when amplitude is no longer in account but weight (Mass)
is you would notice the change in time with the more or less weight on it. If less weight is
add the less time it would take to make the ten cycles we are using to observe this
experiment, but if you add more weight the longer the time would be to reach its ten cycles
we are observing from. Some agreements with the predictions is that the amplitude should
not have an effect on period which it does not and that weight does have an effect on period
depending on the amount of weight placed on the spring. I have to disagree with some
results since without precision some numbers would be off. For example period because
timing is an issue since we can never get the time right this is why we had to do ten cycles
to get the most precision in this experiment. Another issue was measurements because we
did not have a precise measurement technique we had to eyeball where it started to were its
amplitude was at. Meaning that in some instances the amplitude we want to get it to can be a
bit over or under meaning that this can make the error a bit more than it should. Some
possible improvements are finding new ways to measure distances more accurately and time
as well.

VII.

REFERENCES

Department of Physics and Astronomy CSU Los Angeles. Edition 2.0, XanEdu
Custom Publishing, pp. 8-14
DATA SHEETS

VIII.