Name of the experiment: To determine the spring constant and effective mass

of a given spiral spring.

1.1Objectives:
The main objective of this lab is to determine the spring constant and effective mass of a given
spiral spring. The aim is also to relate the original mass and effective mass of the spring and to
compare the original effective mass with the experimental one.

1.2Pre-lab:
Student should read the lab manual and have clear idea about the objective, time frame and
outcomes of the lab.
1.3Outcomes:
After completing this experiment student should be able to answer the following questions:

 What is spring constant?

 What is effective mass of a spiral spring?
 How a spring-mass system oscillates?
 How the original mass and effective mass of a spring is related to each other?
 How the spring constant and effective mass can be calculated from the graphs?

1.4 Timing and Length of Investigation (Total 3 Hours):

 Lab Preparation (15 minutes):
 Students will sit for the lab class with preparations and class attendance
will be taken.
 Lecture on Theory (30 minutes):
 Teacher will clarify the objective and theory of the experiment.
 Lecture on Procedure (15 minutes):
 Demonstrator will make the students understand the procedure of the
experiment.
 Experimental Work (90 to 100 minutes):
 Design of experiment: 10 minutes
 Data collection: 30 minutes
 Data analysis, drawing graphs and completing the result part: 50 to 60
minutes
 Post Lab Discussion (15 to 20 minutes):
 Teacher will summarize the total lab work and have a discussion with the
students related with the questions given in the outcomes part.
 Report Submission:
 After completing the lab reports on Microsoft words, students will submit
their lab reports in the next class as groups.
1.5 Theory:
Consider, a spring is clamped vertically at the end P and loaded with a mass m0 at the other end
A. The spring extends to the position O by adding a suitable weight to the free end A. If the
extension is l (as shown in figure 1) then
m0 g=kl

m0
∴ k= g … … … … … …(1)
l

Where k is the spring constant of the given spiral spring.

Now, the period of vibration of the spring along a vertical line is given by,

√ √
'
M m 0+ m
T =2 π =2 π … … … …(2)
k k

Where m' is a constant called the effective mass of the spring and k is the spring constant i.e. the
ratio between the added force and the corresponding extension of the spring.

Figure-1: Measuring spring constant and effective mass

How the mass of the spring contributes to the effective mass of the vibrating system can be
shown as follows:
Consider the kinetic energy of a spring and its load undergoing a simple harmonic motion. At the
instant under consideration, let the load m0 be moving with velocity v 0 (as shown in figure-1).
At the same instant, an element dm of the mass m of the spring will also be moving up but with a
velocity v which is smaller than v 0.
It is evident that the ratio between v and v 0 is just the ratio between y and y 0.

v v0
Hence, =
y y0

v0
⇒ v= y
y0

dm dy
Similarly, we have, =
m y0

m
⇒ dm= dy
y0

2 2
1 2 1 v0 2 m 1 v0 2
Now the kinetic energy of the spring element¿ v dm= . 2 y . dy= m y dy
2 2 y0 y0 2 y30

y0 2
1 v0
And the kinetic energy of the spring¿ ∫ m y 2 dy
0
2 y0
3

2
1 v0 y3 y 0

¿ m[ ]
2 y 30 3 0

2 3
1 v0 y0
¿ m
2 y 30 3

1 m 2
¿ ( ) v0
2 3

1 m 2
Then the total kinetic energy of the system¿ (m 0 + )v 0
2 3
 m
Therefore, the effective mass of the system is (m0 + ) and the effective mass of the spring,
3
' m
m= … … … … … … ..(3)
3

1.6 Apparatus:
A spiral spring, convenient masses with hanging arrangement, clamp, stop clock and scale.
1.7 Procedure:
1. Suspend the spring by a hook attached to a rigid framework of heavy metal rods.
2. Measure the length of the spring with a meter scale. Put a scale behind the spring to
measure the extensions of the spring.
3. Add suitable weight to the free end of the spring so that it extends to the position O. On
the reference frame put behind the spring, note the position O and read the extension l .
4. Pull the load from position O to a moderately low position B and then let it go. The
spring will now execute simple harmonic motion and vibrate up and down about the
position O.With a stop clock take the time for 20 vibrations and compute the time period
T in sec per vibration.
5. Repeat operation (3) and (4) for at least 6 sets of loads.
6. Draw graphs with added loads m0 in grams (abscissa) against the extensions of the spring
l in cm (ordinate) and with T 2 as a function of m0. Draw the best fitted lines through the
points.
7. Calculate the spring constant by using the slope of the first graph.
8. The second graph does not pass through the origin owing to the mass of the spring which
has not been considered in drawing it. The intercept of the resulting line on the mass axis
give the effective mass of the spring.
9. Measure the mass m of the spring and show that the effective mass obtained from the
' m
graph is m = .
3
1.8 Observations:

(A) Length of the spring, L=… … … … … cm

Original mass of the spring, m=… … … … … gm

(B) Determinations of extensions and time periods:

Table: Determinations of extensions and time periods

No. Loads Extension No.of Total time Time T

2

of m0 l vibration t period s
2

obs. (gm) (cm) n (s) T =t / n (s)

1

1.9 Analysis:

We know,
g
m0 ⇒ k=
k= g l
l ( )
m 0
 l
But is the slope from the first graph,
m0
g
∴ k= dyne /cm
Slope

Now, From the first graph we have, slope = …………..

g
∴ k= =−−−−−−¿
Slope

¿ … … … … … … … … … . dyne /cm

The original mass of the spring, m=… … … … … gm

1 1
So, the original effective mass ¿ m= × … … … … … . gm
3 3

¿ … … … … … … gm

Again, From graph effective mass, m' =… … … … … .. gm

Percentage of error¿ | Original effective mass |
Original effective mass−Experimental effective mass
× 100 %

¿¿

¿…………………%
1.10 Result:
The spring constant k =… … … … … … … … . dyne /cm

Experimental effective mass, m' =… … … … … … gm

% of error¿ … … … … … … … … . %
1.11 Discussions:

1.12 Resources:
For further understanding, students may go through the following resources:
 Fundamentals of Physics: Work done by a spring force (Chapter 7, page 159).
 Practical Physics (by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed & Md. Shahabuddin): Expt.11:
To determine the spring constant and effective mass of a given spiral spring and
hence to calculate the rigidity modulus of the material of the spring (page- 68).
 Video Link:
Mass-spring system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJBPNJR2QJU
Spring constant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoukVo6MR40
Effective mass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXMEVdmdYrA