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2020-01 PH2233 Simple Harmonic Motion

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7 views

2020-01 PH2233 Simple Harmonic Motion

Uploaded by

olatilewamichael19
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PH 2233: Simple Harmonic Motion - Spiral Spring

Simple Harmonic Motion - Spiral


Spring
Objective
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the proportionality constant, k, in
Hooke’s Law and to what extent a real spring behaves like an ideal spring. You will
also gain experience in linearizing non-linear data.

Materials
1. 1-meter stick 6. Stopwatch
2. Hanging spring 7. Table clamp and rod
3. Mass hanger 8. Three-hole bracket clamp
4. Ruler 9. Triple beam balance
5. Set of slotted weights

Introduction
When a mass is suspended from an elastic spiral spring, the spring force together with
gravity give a net restoring force, F, given by Hooke’s Law,

F = −kx, (1)

where x is the displacement from the equilibrium position, and k is the force constant.
When released, the mass oscillates (see almost any General Physics Text) with a period
given by r
m
T = 2π , (2)
k
where m is the suspended mass. The derivation of the above equation assumes the
spring to be massless. To look at it another way, this equation is correct if none of the
spring’s mass, ms , oscillates with the suspended mass. Of course the spring’s motion
ranges from full oscillation at the bottom end to no oscillation at the top.
In this experiment we will try to improve on equation (2) by considering a fraction
f of the spring’s mass, ms , to oscillate with the suspended mass, yielding
r
m + f ms
T = 2π . (3)
k

1
PH 2233: Simple Harmonic Motion - Spiral Spring

This expression, when squared, may be written as


 
m + f ms
T 2 =4π 2
k
 2  2  (4)
4π 4π f ms
= m+ .
k k

Inspection of equation (4) shows that a plot of T versus m is a parabola, but a plot of
T 2 versus m is a straight line with a slope 4π 2 /k and a vertical intercept of 4π 2 f ms /k.
From this k and f can be evaluated.

Procedure
The period should be measured for several different (say 8 or 10) values of m. (Don’t
forget the mass of the weight hanger!) The period should be determined by measuring
the time for 20 complete vibrations and then from this computing the time for one
vibration. (A common error is to count “one” at the beginning rather than the end of
the first oscillation; avoid this by counting “zero” as you release the mass.) The T 2
versus m plot now allows k and f to be determined. Care should be exercised not to
excessively stretch the spring.
The force constant k may also be determined directly by use of equation (1). To
do this one should measure x for several different values of F (= mg, the weight of
hanging mass). On an F versus x plot, the slope is k.

Question
a. The slope of this plot should be more reliable than just taking one F and the corre-
sponding x. Why?
b. Which calculation for the spring constant would you expect to be more reliable.
Why?

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