Physics Lab 6

TAHSIN RAHMAN
ID 24090415
Instructor Sudheesh Srivastava
PHYSICS 20700 GH
Lab 6 - Simple Harmonic Oscillators

Introduction: The motivation behind this lab is to explore the characteristics of the simple
harmonic motion. If an object is moving towards to its equilibrium position in order to restore
forces that would be simple harmonic oscillation. There are two main types of simple harmonic
motions, which are the pendulum and oscillation of spring. An important characteristic of each of
these is the period of that motion, it is the time it takes for an oscillated spring to move up and
down. Some simple harmonic motions we see every day is an example if a person on a swing or
a spring in a simple scale used to weigh. For our experiment we had to determine the relationship
between mass and the spring, also how these two variables would affect position, velocity and
acceleration. My hypothesis is that as an object will have the same amount of energy because the
kinetic energy and speed are max at equilibrium, while potential energy is, and height are zero.
Returning to equilibrium its acceleration and position will decrease, due to outside forces
slowing down, including gravity.
Procedure: First, we needed to find the value of spring constant, k. We used the equation F=-kx
to calculate the spring constant. In order to come up with the value of x we measured the length
of the spring without any weights on it. Then, we measured the length of the spring after we
attached a 1kg mass to it & the difference between the stretched and unstretched spring is the
value of x. Knowing that the only force acting on the mass is the force of gravity, we were able
to calculate the value of k. After that and before we take any records, we sketched the graph that
we expected to be the motion of the spring when it is oscillating at an amplitude A. Then, we
connected the Logger Pro to record the motion of the spring, and through that we were able to
collect the graphs for position vs. time, velocity vs. time, and acceleration vs. time. Then, we
tested for what affects the motion of the spring which is the purpose of this experiment. After
collecting the data, we plotted it into a graph to see if the change in period depends on the
amplitude. Finally, we calculated the energy before and during the motion of the spring to check
for the concept of conservation of energy. First, we recorded a set of data for mass of 1kg using
Logger Pro. Then, we found the energy before the spring was released and when it reached an
amplitude of zero. Before the spring was released all the energy was in form of potential energy.
1
We used the equation U= k x2 find the initial energy. Then, at the amplitude qual zero all the
2
1 2
energy was in form of kinetic energy. Therefore, we used the equation K= m v to find the final
2
energy. The velocity we obtained from the graph recorded by Logger Pro, in which the velocity
at amplitude equal zero was the maximum velocity.
Data & Graph:
Experiment 1:
F=-kx
Mg=-kx
1kg*9.8m/s^2=-k*0.256m
K=38.28 Nm
Experiment 2:
Position(m) vs. Time(s) Graph

0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
Position(m)
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
Time(s)
Velocity vs. Time
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
Accelaration vs. Time

4
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
-1
-2
-3
-4
Experiment3:
Period vs Mass
1.2
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Period vs. SqrtMass

1.2
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
period vs. Amplitude
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
1
The potential energy at the highest point uses the following equation, U= k x2
2
1
= *38.28*(0.085)2 = 0.14 J
2
1 2
The kinetic energy at the point of the equilibrium uses the following equation, K= m v
2
1 2
= ∗1∗( 0. 53 ) =0.1 45 J
2
Questions:
1. The mass moves relative to the equilibrium position by oscillating up and down. What
causes the oscillation the mass on the spring is the force of the spring.
x2 −x1 0.4−0.2
2. V= = =0.4
t 2−t1
0.5−0
The obtained velocity from Graph is 0.67 m/s.
3. The accurate position of the maximum velocity is at the equilibrium position. However,
in this lab it was at x=0.065 due to the sources of error that contributed to the results due
to air resistance that we did not include in our calculations for this lab.
x2 −x1
4. V= =0.65-0.5/0.5=0.3m/s
t 2−t
1
The value that we obtained from the graph was 0.56 m/s./
5. The velocity is minimum at the position x=0.065. This distance is the distance away from
the top and bottom of the oscillation.
v 2−v 1
6. a= t =-2.4m/s^2
2−t1
The value that we obtained from the acceleration vs. time graph was = -3.2 m/s 2.
7. The position in which the acceleration is maximum is at x=0.0875.
8. Using the same acceleration equation, a(t)=ω2xmcos(ωt+φ), we can find the minimum
acceleration, which occurs at position 0.311718 meters and 3.25 seconds. a(t)=ω2xmcos
(ωt+φ) ...a(t)= (2π.85)2*0.311718cos (2π.85*3.25+0) ...a(t)= 1.027m/ s. The minimum
acceleration is = -3.2 meters per second squared. However, the graphs acceleration reads
0.2m/s2.
9. As mentioned before, the position when the acceleration is minimum is .311718 meters.
10. Unfortunately, all our calculated max and min positions, velocities, and accelerations
are different from the graph measurements. Our groups predictions match the graphs due
to its periodic behavior and constant amplitudes. The fault may be due to wrong
calculations or measurements. Using the plots mentioned above [T(m), T(m−−√), T(A)]
to validate the relations between the period and the mass or amplitude.
11. Comparing the three graphs, period vs mass, period vs square root of the mass, and
period vs amplitude, we can clearly state there is a direct relationship between the mass
and the spring’s period and amplitude. This can be explained by the fact that the force
that contributes to the extension of the spring is gravity or m*g (mass times gravity). Fg =
kx, mg = kx. As the mass increases, the displacement, x, will increase directly
proportionally. The period can be thought of intuitively. If the displacement, x, increases,
the spring will require more time to travel the longer distance. Note that our graphs
measured three periods of the spring’s oscillation. Therefore, find the time of one period,
being τ=total time/3 and thus τ=130.8
12. The potential energy at the highest point uses the following equation, U=0.14 J & The
kinetic energy at the point of the equilibrium use the following equation, K= 0.145 J. So,
there is no loss of energy.
13. Loss of energy is always released to the atmosphere. The energy goes into the heating of
the air (by air resistance) and the internal heating of the spring as its crystals slide past
each other. This internal heating is not noticed however because the heat will be quickly
dissipated into the surrounding air
Conclusion: The result of this experiment was expected. Also, the result matched the predicted
graph for the motion of the spring. At the end of the experiment, we found the energy at the
highest point almost equal to the energy at the point of equilibrium, only± 0.0005 J difference
which is almost the result for uncertainty. BY doing the experiment, we learned how does the
square root of mass affect the period, and how the amplitude does not have an effect.

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TAHSIN RAHMAN

Instructor Sudheesh Srivastava

Lab 6 - Simple Harmonic Oscillators

Position(m) vs. Time(s) Graph

Accelaration vs. Time

Period vs. SqrtMass

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