University of Hartford PHY113/121 Fall 2020

Oscillations
General Information
Purpose
In this experiment you will study two systems that approximate simple harmonic motion: a
mass on a spring and a simple pendulum. By careful analysis you should be able to determine
which properties make the systems similar to simple harmonic oscillators and which properties
keep them from being true simple harmonic oscillators.

Equipment Needed
Computer with a web browser

Theoretical Background
One type of system that is very important is an oscillator, or a system that has a periodic back
and forth motion. There are many systems in nature that are oscillators or can be approximated
using an oscillator model. A number of systems in nature exhibit a harmonic oscillation, or a
periodic motion with a preferred or natural frequency, which depends on other properties of
the system.

In this experiment, we will confine ourselves to simple harmonic motion (SHM), a specific type
of oscillation that is defined by three characteristics:
1. The force on the oscillating mass is proportional to the displacement. In other words, it
obeys Hooke’s Law.

𝐹⃗ = −𝑘𝑥⃗ (2.1)

2. The position of the oscillating mass is sinusoidal in time. This means that a graph of 𝑥 vs.
𝑡 will look like a sine wave.

𝑥(𝑡) = 𝐴 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙) (2.2)

Here 𝐴 is the amplitude, or the maximum 𝑥 value (𝑥max ), 𝜔 is the angular frequency in
units of rad/s, and 𝜙 is an initial phase constant.
3. The total energy of the system is conserved. This means the system cannot have any
dissipative forces such as friction.

Most macroscopic oscillating systems are not examples of SHM because they do not meet one
or more of these requirements, although some systems closely approximate SHM. For example,
a mass on a spring oscillating in air will easily meet the first two requirements, but not the third.
However, if the rate of energy loss due to dissipative forces like air resistance is very slow, we
can successfully use SHM equations over a short period of time.
University of Hartford PHY113/121 Fall 2020

Mass and Spring

For a spring system that approximates SHM, the system is described by the strength of the
spring (which is represented in the spring constant 𝑘) and the oscillating mass, 𝑚. As developed
in lecture, the natural frequency of the system is

𝑘
𝜔=√ (2.3)
𝑚

The angular frequency 𝜔 is related to the period 𝑇 by

2𝜋
𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 = (2.4)
𝑇

Combining these two equations, we can get an expression for the period in terms of 𝑘 and 𝑚.

𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ (2.5)
𝑘

Pendulum
A pendulum oscillates, but the restoring force (in this case gravity) does not obviously obey
Hooke’s Law:

𝐹 = −𝑚𝑔 sin 𝜃 (2.6)

However, if the angle is very small, we can use the small angle approximation, sin 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃. This
gives us an expression which does follow Hooke’s Law.

𝑥
𝐹 = −𝑚𝑔𝜃 = −𝑚𝑔 (2.7)
𝑙

where 𝑚 is the mass of the pendulum, 𝑥 is the horizontal component of the position of the
pendulum, and 𝑙 is the length of the pendulum.

If we compare Equation 2.7 to Equation 2.1, we could call 𝑚𝑔/𝑙 the “effective 𝑘,” which leads
us to expect a period of

𝑚 𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ = 2𝜋√ 𝑚𝑔 (2.8)
𝑘
𝑙
𝑙
𝑇=√ (2.9)
𝑔
University of Hartford PHY113/121 Fall 2020

Pendulum
Experimental Procedure
1. Start the simulation by visiting the link: PhET Pendulum Lab. Choose the “Lab” page. Use
the following settings:
Length Gravity Friction
1.00 m 9.81 m/s 2 Level 3
Do not change the gravity and friction during the experiment.
2. Add the stopwatch. Click the start button on the stopwatch; it will not start until you
start the simulation.
3. To determine the period of motion, you should measure the time for at least 10 periods
and divide your total time by the number of full oscillations. Pull the mass back to -30°
and start the simulation. Record the time for 10 periods. Repeat this a total of 5 times
and average your results. Find the standard deviation of your period measurements and
use that as your uncertainty. You should use this as the uncertainty for all of the time
measurements for the pendulum.
4. In order to see how the period depends on length, measure the period for the following
additional lengths: 0.80, 0.60, 0.40, 0.20 m using the process from Step 3. Use an initial
angle of -30° each time.
5. Set the length back to 1.0 m. In order to see how the period depends on the initial
displacement, measure the period for the following initial angles: -45°, -40°, -35°, and
-25°.
6. In order to see how the period depends on mass, measure the period of the pendulum
for the following masses: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 kg. Use an initial angle of
-30° each time and a pendulum length of 1 m.

Data Analysis
1. What is the uncertainty for your measurements of period 𝑇?
2. How does measuring the period for 10 cycles affect your uncertainty in the
measurement of one period?
3. Why did we use the standard deviation from multiple measurements as our estimate of
uncertainty?
4. Using a graph, determine the relationship between length and period. An Excel
spreadsheet or Google Sheets document to create a graph is the best way to do this.
a. Does the period depend on length? If so, how?
b. Is this what you expected?
5. Using a graph, determine the relationship between initial angle and period.
a. Does the period depend on initial angle? If so, how?
b. Is this what you expected?
6. Using a graph, determine the relationship between mass and period.
a. Does the period depend on mass? If so, how?
b. Is this what you expected?
7. Using the appropriate data set, calculate the value of 𝑔, the acceleration owing to
gravity. Comment on your value. Is it what you expected?
University of Hartford PHY113/121 Fall 2020

Mass and Spring

Experimental Procedure
1. Start the simulation by using the link: PhET Masses and Springs. Choose the “Lab” page.
Use the following settings:
Mass Spring Constant Gravity Damping
100 g Level 3 9.8 m/s 2 Level 1
Do not change the gravity during the experiment.
2. Turn off the Energy graph and turn on the Displacement and Natural Length indicators.
3. Finding the spring constant: Hang the 100-g mass from the spring and wait for it to stop
moving. Click on the ruler icon and measure the displacement of the spring (the length
of the green arrow). Estimate the uncertainty in your measurement.
4. Repeat the displacement measurement using masses of 150, 175, 200, 225, and 250 g.
5. Using Excel or other spreadsheet software, make a graph of weight vs. displacement (𝑤
vs. 𝑥). Find the slope of this graph with uncertainty. What does it represent?
6. Remove the labeled mass and place the unlabeled blue mass on the spring. Measure the
displacement. Using this, determine the size of the blue mass.
7. Remove the blue mass and place the unlabeled red mass on the spring. Measure the
displacement. Using this, determine the size of the red mass.
8. Measuring the period: Make sure the simulation is stopped. Reset the mass to 100 g
and set damping to zero. Add the stopwatch and the movable line. Click the start button
on the stopwatch; it will not start until you start the simulation.
9. To determine the period of motion, you should measure the time for at least 10 periods
and divide the time measurements by the number of periods. With the simulation still
paused, pull down the mass by some length. Put the movable line at the bottom of the
mass. Start the simulation and record the time for 10 periods.
10. In order to see how the period depends on mass, repeat the period measurement using
masses of 150, 175, 200, 225, and 250 g.
11. Measuring energy: Make sure the simulation is stopped. Remove the stopwatch and the
movable line. Add the Displacement and Natural Length indicators as well as the
Velocity and Acceleration indicators. Set the viewer to slow mode.
12. With the simulation still paused, pull down the mass by some length. Start the
simulation and stop it after a few oscillations. Using the small increment advance (to the
right of the play button) advance the simulation until the acceleration is zero (i.e., the
yellow arrow disappears). Using the ruler, measure the displacement 𝑥 and the height ℎ
of the mass.
13. Find a different spot with zero acceleration and measure the displacement 𝑥 and the
height ℎ of the mass.
14. Advance the simulation until the velocity is zero (i.e., the green arrow disappears).
Again, measure the displacement 𝑥 and the height ℎ of the mass.
15. Find a different spot with zero velocity and measure the displacement 𝑥 and the height
ℎ of the mass.
16. Pick a random spot the displacement and height are non-zero and measure the values
for 𝑥 and ℎ.
University of Hartford PHY113/121 Fall 2020

17. Pause the simulation and reset it. Remove the lines and the velocity and acceleration
indicators. Add the Energy graph. Pull the mass some distance and start the simulation.
What does the Energy Graph indicate is happening?
18. Pause the simulation and set the damping to the first level. Pull the mass some distance
and start the simulation. What does the Energy Graph indicate is happening?

Data Analysis
1. What is the value of the two unlabeled masses? How did you calculate them?
2. What is the value of the spring constant, with uncertainty? How did you calculate it?
3. Using an appropriate graph, determine the relationship between mass and period.
(Note: 𝑇 vs. 𝑚 may not be the best graph for this. Why?)
a. Does the period depend on mass? If so, how?
b. Is this what you expected?
4. Using your values of 𝑥, ℎ, and 𝑣 measured in steps 12-19 try to estimate:
a. the maximum speed of the mass
b. the total energy of the system.
c. If you can, estimate the unmeasured values in the worksheet table.