Experiment 1: Oscillating Spring

In this experiment, you will investigate how mass and amplitude affect the period of an oscillating spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedure

Part 1: Changing Mass

1. Set a pencil on a surface, such as a table or counter, perpendicular to the edge of the surface with the eraser end extending approximately 3 cm off of the surface.
2. Secure the pencil to the surface with masking tape.
3. Suspend the spring from the pencil by the circular loop of the spring.
4. Hang the 50 g mass on the end of the spring by separating about three to four coils of the free end of the spring and hooking the mass to those coils. Let the mass suspend from the spring until it has reached equilibrium (not moving).
5. Hold the ruler vertically next to the mass with the centimeter side closest to the mass.
   Hint: You will need to support the ruler while using the stopwatch with the same hand. If the mass does not hang low enough to rest the ruler on the floor, try placing your lab kit box as a base under the hanging mass. If the mass touches the floor when hung on the coils try using a higher counter top. If there is no higher counter top available try using the top of an open door. Use caution and extra tape for support. Ensure the pencil is stable before hanging any mass on it. Wear safety glasses.

6. Observe where the top of the mass lines up with the ruler when the spring rests at equilibrium (no movement).
7. Displace the mass 5 cm from equilibrium by pulling it down until the top of the mass is 5 cm lower than when it was at rest and release it. Observe the resulting motion.
8. Use the stopwatch to measure the amount of time it takes for the mass to make N number oscillations. Record the number of oscillations you choose to time in Table 1.
9. Repeat Step 8 until you get a consistent time reading. Record the time in Table 1.
10. Repeat Steps 4 – 9 for the 100 g mass.
11. Attach the steel bolt to the end of the spring as shown in Figure 5. Extend the end of the coil and start to wrap it around the thin part of the bolt just under the head, similar to putting a key on a metal key ring. Once 1 - 2 coils have been wrapped around the neck of the bolt and it is secure, move onto the next step.
12. Repeat Steps 4 - 9 for the steel bolt. If the displacement is too large, reduce it by 1 cm until a smooth oscillation is observed.

Part 2: Changing Amplitude

1. Hang the 100 g mass on the end of the spring by separating about three to four coils of the free end of the spring and hooking the mass to those coils. Let the mass suspend from the spring until it has reached equilibrium.
2. Hold the ruler vertically next to the mass with the centimeter side closest to the mass.
   Hint: You will need to support the ruler while using the stopwatch with the same hand. If the mass does not hang low enough to rest the ruler on the floor, try placing your lab kit box under the hanging mass to be used as a base. If the mass touches the floor when hung on the coils try using a higher counter top. If there is no higher counter top available try using the top of an open door. Be careful and use extra tape for support. Ensure the pencil is stable before hanging any mass on it. Wear safety
   glasses.
3. Observe where the top of the mass lines up with the ruler when it is at equilibrium (at rest).
4. Displace the mass 5 cm from equilibrium by pulling it down until the top of the mass is 5 cm lower than when it was at rest and release it. Observe the resulting motion.
5. Use the stopwatch to measure the amount of time it takes for the mass to make N oscillations. Record the number of oscillations you choose to time in Table 2.
6. Repeat Step 5 until you get a consistent time reading. Record this time in Table 1.
7. Choose an amplitude other than 5 cm. Record the amplitude in Table 2.
8. Repeat Steps 4 - 7 for four additional amplitudes.

 

 

Post-Lab Questions

 

1. Describe initial observations about any differences in motion as mass and amplitude changed.

 

 

 

 

2. Create a plot of the period vs. mass (exclude the steel bolt). Construct your plot on a computer program such as Microsoft Excel®. If you do not have a graphing program installed on your computer, you can access one on the internet via the following links: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/ or http://www.onlinecharttool.com/graph?selected_graph=bar. Comment on the general shape of your plot and relate this shape to the equation describing SHM:

 

 

 

3. Use your data to calculate the spring constant, k, of the spring.

Hint: What variables do you need to plot in order to produce a linear graph in order to calculate k?

 

 

 

 

4. Use the calculated value of k and your data from Part 1: Changing Mass to calculate the mass of the steel bolt.

 

 

 

 

5. Calculate the maximum speed of the masses and steel bolt during the oscillation.

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