Physics I – PHYS 243L

(General Physics, with Calculus)

Title: Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

Course Name/ Number: Physics I (Calculus) – PHYS 243L

Class Time/ Section Number: 4:00 pm – 6:50 pm / Section 1

Performed: November 7th, 2018

Submitted: November 14th, 2018

I. ABSTRACT

Simple Harmonic Motion is the oscillatory motion of a mass on a spring when it is

subject to a restoring force. The force applied by the spring is proportional to how

much it is stretched or compressed. This experiment’s objectives included the

measurement of the position and velocity as a function of time for an oscillating mass

and spring system; the determination of the amplitude, period, and phase constant of

the observed simple harmonic motion; and the comparison of the observed motion of

a mass and spring system to a mathematical model of simple harmonic motion. The

position vs. time graphs, and velocity vs. time graphs, were obtained with the use of a

Vernier Motion Detector, a Vernier computer interface, and the Logger Pro software.

For each of the runs performed during the experiment, it was measured the position

and velocity as a function of time for an oscillating mass and spring system. Based on

the results obtained for the amplitude, time, frequency, and phase constant, it was

obtained the position, velocity, and acceleration of each simple harmonic motion. The

equations used to obtain the velocity and acceleration came from the derivation of the

position equation y= Asin (2 πft + ∅). The position results were very similar while the

velocity and acceleration increased with an increase in amplitude and decreased

significantly with the increase in mass. The amplitude, period, and phase constant

were determined by observing the graph for simple harmonic motion of the

oscillating mass and spring. The motion of a mass and spring system were compared

to a mathematical model of simple harmonic motion and the model fit the data well as

there was a good alignment between the model and the data trace. According to the

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results obtained, the frequency is not dependent on amplitude but is dependent on

mass; while the velocity and acceleration are dependent both on amplitude and mass.

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II. INTRODUCTION

A. Objective:

The objectives of this experiment were to examine the energies

involved in simple harmonic motion, and to test the principle of

conservation of energy.

B. Theory:

Simple Harmonic Motion can be defined as the oscillatory motion

where the net force on the system is a restoring force. An oscillatory

motion is the repetitive back and forth, or up and down motion over the

same pathway about an equilibrium position, such as a mass on a spring.

A restoring force is a force acting opposite to displacement to bring the

system back to equilibrium, which is its rest position. The force magnitude

depends only on displacement, such as in Hooke’s law, as the force

applied by the spring is proportional to how much it is stretched or

compressed. The simple harmonic motion and the position can be modeled

using the equation:

y= Asin (2 πft + ∅)

where y is the vertical displacement from the equilibrium position,

A is the amplitude of the motion, f is the frequency of the oscillation, t is

the time, and ∅ is a phase constant.

III. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

A. Equipment:

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The apparatus used in this experiment were a computer, a Vernier

computer interface, Logger Pro, a Vernier Motion Detector, a wire basket,

a ring stand, a slotted mass set, 50 g to 300 g in 50 g steps, a slotted mass

hanger, a 200 g hooked mass, a spring, 15 N/m, and twist ties.

B. Procedure:

Part I Preliminary data collection

1. Set up the experiment

a. Mounted the 200 g mass and spring, as shown in Figure 1.

Securely fastened the 200 g mass to the spring, and the spring

to the rod, using twist ties so the mass could not fall.

b. Connected the Motion Detector to a digital (DIG) port of the

interface. Set the Motion Detector sensitivity to Ball/Walk.

c. Positioned the Motion Detector below the hanging mass, taking

care that no extraneous objects could send reflections back to

the detector. The mass should have been about 30 cm above the

detector when it was at rest. Using amplitudes of 5 cm or less

kept the mass outside of the 15 cm minimum distance of the

Motion Detector.

2. Opened the file “17a Energy in SHM” from the Physics with

Vernier folder.

3. Started the mass moving up and down by lifting it 5 cm and then

releasing it. Took care that the mass was not swinging from side to

side. Clicked collect to record position and velocity data. Printed

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the graphs and compared to the predictions. Commented on any

differences.

Part II Determining spring constant

To calculate the spring potential energy, it was necessary to measure the

spring constant, k. Hooke’s law states that the spring force is proportional

to its extension from equilibrium, or F=-kx. You can apply a known force

to the spring, to be balanced in magnitude by the spring force, by hanging

a range of weights from the spring. The Motion Detector can then be used

to measure the equilibrium position. Plotted the weight vs. position to find

the spring constant, k.

4. Opened the experiment file “17b Energy in SHM.” Logger Pro was

set up to plot the applied weight vs. position.

5. Clicked Collect to begin data collection. Hanged a 50 g mass from

the spring and allowed the mass to hang motionless. Clicked keep

and entered 0.49, the weight of the mass in newtons (N). Pressed

ENTER to complete the entry. Then hanged 100, 200, 250, and

300 g from the spring, recording the position and entering the

weights in newtons. It was important that the length of the mass

did not change as the value of the mass changed. When finishes,

clicked Stop to end data collection.

6. Clicked Linear Fit, to fit a straight line to the data. What were the

units of the slope? What did the slope measure? Recorded the

slope value in the data table.

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Part III Energy in simple harmonic motion

7. Removed the 300 g slotted mass set and replaced it with a 200 g

hooked mass for the following experiments.

8. Opened the experiment file “17c Energy in SHM.” In addition to

plotting position and velocity, three new data columns were set up

in the experiment file (kinetic energy, elastic potential energy, and

the sum of these two individual energies). It was needed to modify

the calculations for the energies. Adjusted the parameter for mass

and spring constant as appropriate.

9. In order to measure distances from the equilibrium position of the

mass, it was necessary to zero the Motion Detector. Measuring

from equilibrium allows easy calculation of the elastic potential

energy, since the distance corresponded directly to spring stretch or

compression. With the mass hanging from the spring and at rest,

clicked Zero to zero the Motion Detector. Distances were

measured from the current position of the mass, with displacement

above the current position measured as positive. Displacement

below the current position was read as negative.

10. Started the mass oscillating in a vertical direction only, with an

amplitude of about 10 cm. Clicked Collect to gather position,

velocity, and energy data.

IV. DATA

Table 1: Spring Constant

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Slope of force vs. position 41.69 N/m

Graph 1: Preliminary Data Collection

Graph represents position and velocity data collected from the motion of the mass moving up

and down.

Graph 2: Determining Spring Constant

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Graph represents the plotted weight vs. position in order to find the spring constant, in which is

represented by the slope.

Graph 3: Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

Graph represents position, velocity, and energy data collected from the motion of the mass

oscillating in a vertical direction only.

Graph 4: Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy

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Graph represents the kinetic energy and potential energy. It is the answer to question 1 in the

Analysis section.

Graph 5: Kinetic, Potential, and Total Energy

Graph represents the kinetic energy, potential energy, and also the total energy. It is the answer

to question 4 in the Analysis section.

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V. ANALYSIS

A. Calculations and Graphs:

For each of the runs performed during the experiment, it was measured the

position and velocity as a function of time for an oscillating mass and spring

system. Based on the results obtained for the amplitude, time, frequency, and

phase constant, it was obtained the position, velocity, and acceleration of each

simple harmonic motion. The equations used to obtain the velocity and

acceleration came from the derivation of the position equation

y= Asin (2 πft + ∅). When comparing the position and velocity graphs, they

showed to be the same as they have the same period but they differ in that

they do not have the same phase constant. It appears that the frequency, f,

does not depend on the amplitude of the motion, as the values were very

similar for both of the amplitudes used, but it does depend on the mass used,

as the frequency was smaller for the larger mass, and larger for the smaller

mass. It can be observed that the position value obtained for the different runs

were very similar, with the larger mass having the highest value. The velocity

values for the runs were very significant as the velocity increased as the

amplitude increased, but it dramatically decreased with the increase in mass.

The acceleration values followed the same pattern as the velocity values, as

the acceleration increased with a larger amplitude, and drastically decreased

with the additional mass. The motion of the mass and spring system were

compared to a mathematical model of simple harmonic motion and the model

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fit the data well as there was a good alignment between the model and the data

trace.

B. Discussion of Error:

The equipment used in this experiment to measure motion was a Motion

Detector. The Motion Detector could have caused experimental error by not being

properly calibrated. Motion Detectors are very sensitive to movement and can

measure sound waves all around its surroundings. The room in which the

experiment was performed contained many different objects, including electronic

equipment that caused electromagnetic interference altering data. The data results

could have also been altered by other student’s movement in the classroom

walking behind the work stations, tracking of hand motion instead of object’s, and

object not being in the beam of the Motion Detector.

C. Conclusions:

The understanding of simple harmonic motion allowed for the

measurement of the position and velocity as a function of time for an oscillating

mass and spring system. It also allowed for the determination of the amplitude,

period, and phase constant of the observed simple harmonic motion. It also made

possible for the comparison of the observed motion of a mass and spring system

to a mathematical model of simple harmonic motion. The position and velocity

as a function of time were obtained from the derived position equation. The

position results were not as significant as the velocity and acceleration values.

The velocity and acceleration increased with an increase in amplitude and

decreased significantly with the increase in mass. The amplitude, period, and

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phase constant were determined by observing the graph for simple harmonic

motion of the oscillating mass and spring. The motion of a mass and spring

system were compared to a mathematical model of simple harmonic motion and

the model fit the data well as there was a good alignment between the model and

the data trace. It can be concluded that the frequency, f, does not depend on the

amplitude of the motion, as the values were very similar for both of the

amplitudes used, but it does depend on the mass used, as the frequency was

smaller for the larger mass, and larger for the smaller mass. Therefore, the

frequency is not dependent on amplitude, but is dependent on mass; while the

velocity and acceleration are dependent both on amplitude and mass.

VI. APPENDICES

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

1. Attach the 200 g mass to the spring and hold the free end of the spring

in your hand, so the mass and spring hang down with the mass at rest.

Lift the mass about 10 cm and release. Observe the motion. Sketch a

graph of position vs. time for the mass.

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2. Just below the graph of position vs. time, and using the same length

time scale, sketch a graph of velocity vs. time for the mass.

ANALYSIS

1. View the graphs of the last run. Compare the position vs. time and the

velocity vs. time graphs. How are they the same? How are they different?

The position and velocity graphs are the same as they have the same period.

The position and velocity graphs are different as they do not have the same

phase.

2. Click Examine, to use the Examine tool. Move the mouse cursor back and

forth across the graph to view the data values for the last run on the

screen. In your data table, record time and position values for when v=o.

Also record time and position values for a point when the velocity is

greatest. Relative to the equilibrium position, where is the mass when the

velocity is zero? Where is the mass when the velocity is greatest?

When the velocity is zero, the mass is at a minimum or maximum position.

When the velocity is greatest, the mass is passing through the equilibrium

position.

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3. Does the frequency, f, appear to depend on the amplitude of the motion?

Do you have enough data to draw a firm conclusion?

It appears that the frequency, f, does not depend on the amplitude of the

motion, as the values were very similar for both of the amplitudes used. In

order to draw a firm conclusion, it is necessary to measure the frequency with

additional amplitudes.

4. Does the frequency, f, appear to depend on the mass used? Did it change

much in your tests?

It appears that the frequency, f, does depend on the mass used, as the

frequency was smaller for the larger mass, and larger for the smaller mass.

5. You can compare your experimental data to the sinusoidal function

model using the Model feature of Logger Pro. Try it with your 300 g data.

The model equation in the introduction, which is similar to the one in

many textbooks, gives the displacement from equilibrium. However, your

Motion Detector reports the distance from the detector. To compare the

model to your data, add the equilibrium distance to the model; that is, use

y= Asin ( 2 πft+ ∅ )+ y 0

where y 0 represents the equilibrium distance. The phase, ∅ , is called the

phase constant and is used to adjust the y value reported by the model at

t=0 so that it matches your data.

a. Click once on the position graph to select it.

b. Choose Model from the Analyze menu and select Latest.

c. Select the Sine function from the General Equation list.

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d. The Sine equation is of the form y= A∗sin ( Bt +C )+ D. Compare this to

the form of the equation above to match variables; e.g., ∅ corresponds

to C, and 2 πf corresponds to B.

e. Adjust the values for A, B, and D to reflect your values for A, f and y 0.

You can either enter the values directly in the dialog box or you can

use the up and down arrows to adjust the values.

f. The optimum value for ∅ will be between 0 and 2 π . Find a value for ∅

that makes the model come as close as possible to the data of your 300

g experiment. You may also want to adjust y 0, A, and f to improve the

fit. Write down the equation that best matches your data.

6. Does the model fit the data well? How can you tell?

The model does fit the data well. There is a good alignment between the

model and the data trace.

7. Predict what would happen to the plot of the model if you doubled the

parameter for A by sketching both the current model and the new model

with doubled A. Now double the parameter for A in the model dialog box

to compare to your predictions.

By doubling the amplitude, the model plot would be changed as the maximum

distance from the detector would increase, and the minimum distance would

decrease.

8. Similarly, predict how the model plot would change if you doubled f, and

then check by modifying the model definition.

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By doubling the frequency, the model plot would be changed as there would

be twice as many cycles during the time elapsed.

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VII. REFERENCES

Giancoli, Douglas C. “Describing Motion: Kinematics in One Dimension.” Physics for

Scientists and Engineers With Modern Physics, 4th ed., vol. 1, Pearson Education,

Inc., 2008, pp. 18–50.

Introduction to simple harmonic motion review. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-physics-1/simple-harmonic-motion-ap/

introduction-to-simple-harmonic-motion-ap/a/introduction-to-simple-harmonic-

motion-review

Simple Harmonic Motion. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/shm.html

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