LAB-3 (OL) PERIODIC AND SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION –

USING PHET
Rev 7-15-2020

OBJECTIVES
To study simple harmonic motion, and to determine the value of acceleration due to gravity
by using a simple pendulum. Also, to verify the equation for time period for a vertical spring-
mass system.

EQUIPMENT
PhET Pendulum Lab: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/pendulum-lab
PhET Masses and Springs Lab: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/masses-and-springs-basics
You can also get to the simulations by entering in your browser: Phet, then select Physics. For
the Spring, select the “Basic” simulation.

THEORY
Whenever a restoring force is created due to displacement of a body from its mean
(equilibrium) position, the restoring force tries to bring the body back to the original
(mean) position. If the restoring force is proportional to the displacement from the mean
position, the resulting vibratory motion is called simple harmonic motion. A linear
restoring force may be expressed mathematically by the equation
F = -k Δx (1)
where F is the force (N), Δx (m) is the displacement from the equilibrium point, and k (N/m)
is a proportionality constant. The minus sign expresses the restoring nature of the force by
indicating that the direction of F is always opposite to the displacement Δx from equilibrium.
For vibratory motion we have the following definitions:
Amplitude, A: The maximum displacement from the equilibrium point on either side.
(unit: m)
Cycle: One complete vibration. (no units)
Time Period, T: The time required for one complete cycle. (unit: s)
Frequency, f : The number of cycles completed per second (= 1/T). (unit: s -1 )

Angular frequency , ω: ω=2 πf =

√ k
m
(unit: rad/s)

Further analysis of the vibrations resulting from a linear restoring force shows that the period
is given by:

T =2 π
√ m
k
(2 )

where T is the period, m is the mass of the vibrating body, and k is the proportionality
constant from Equation 1. If m is expressed in kilograms and k in newtons per meter, T will
come out in seconds.
The following equations give the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the mass as a
function of time:

Displacement: ∆ x= A cos(ωt+ φ) ∆ x max = A

Velocity: V =−ωA sin(ωt +φ) V max =ωA= A
√ k
m

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 2 k
Acceleration: 2
a=−ω A cos (ωt +φ) a max=ω A= A
m
Two physical examples of this type of force are considered in the present experiment, the
simple pendulum and the spring-mass system.

SIMPLE PENDULUM Figure 1: Simple Pendulum

This consists of a concentrated mass suspended at the end of a
cord of negligible weight, such as a small metal sphere on a
long, thin thread, as shown in Fig. 1. The sphere has been
drawn aside to a horizontal distance x. the thread
consequently making an angle θ with the vertical. The vertical
line through the suspension point is at X = 0, which is the
equilibrium position. From Fig 1:
For small θ, we have Sin θ ≈ θ, and m g Sinθ ≈ m g θ.
Now θ = S / L, which for small θ, becomes: θ = X / L. The net
force then becomes:
m g Sinθ ≈ m g θ = m g X / L = (m g / L ) X.
In eqn 1, the k becomes the same as mg/ L, and the equation
for the time period becomes:

T =2 π
√ L
g
(3)

SPRING-MASS SYSTEM
This consists of a light spring, to which a mass is
Figure 2: Spring-Mass System
attached, such that the mass can move freely. In our
case, we will hang the spring vertically, so that the
mass can vibrate in a vertical direction.
Ideally, the elongation of a spring is proportional to the
stretching force. Therefore, if a mass is hung on a
spring, the spring will be stretched by an amount
proportional to the weight of the mass. An equilibrium
position will be reached at which the spring pulls up on
the mass with a force just equal to the mass's weight. If
X is the equilibrium position, then when the mass is
pulled lower than X by a displacement Δx, there is a X
restoring force F = -k Δx, which pulls the mass towards
the equilibrium position. This leads to the mass X + ΔX
executing simple harmonic motion in the vertical
direction. The time period is given by equation 2:

T =2 π
√ m
k
(4)

If the mass of the spring is not negligible compared to

the attached mass, it must also be included in the
computations. It is found that the effective mass m is
the attached mass plus one third of the mass of the
spring. This is the mass that should be used in the
equation for the time period.

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PROCEDURE
SIMPLE PENDULUM
Open the simulation: Pendulum Lab in PhET. Select “INTRO”.
1- Select the length of the string as L = 90 cm. Keep mass = 1.00 kg, Gravity = Earth,
Friction = 0.0, normal (not slow).
2- Displace the mass to one side, so that the string makes an angle of around 5° with the
vertical. Release the mass and let it oscillate. Start the stopwatch (on lower left of the
screen) when the mass is at one extreme end and note the time for 25 cycles (or
vibrations). Calculate the time for one cycle (= T ). Enter the data in Table-1.
3- Decrease the length of the pendulum in increments of 5.00 cm till it is around 60 cm and
find the time for 25 vibrations (and hence for T) for each of the lengths. Use this data to
draw a graph between T2 on the y-axis vs L on the x-axis. Obtain the value of ‘g’ by
finding the slope of the line. Enter the data in Table-1.
4- Use a length of pendulum around 50 cm, and find the time for 25 vibrations when the
mass is displaced by about 5°, 30°, and 45°. Use this data to determine the effect of angle
on the time period of the pendulum. Enter the data in Table-2.
5- Use the length of pendulum about 50.0 cm, and change the value of the mass to 0.80 kg,
0.60 kg and 0.40 kg. Use the displacement angle as 5° and measure the time for 25
vibrations. Use the data to determine the effect of mass on the time period of the
pendulum. Enter the data in Table-3.

SPRING-MASS SYSTEM
Open the simulation: Mass and Spring - Basics in PhET. Select “LAB”.
6- Select Spring Strength (related to spring constant) at the 3rd line from “Small” towards
“Large”. Select on right hand top corner: Un-stretched Position and Resting Position.
7- Attach the mass to the spring. The spring will start oscillating up and down. (You can stop
it by clicking on it when it is in the Resting Position, but you do not have to). Set the mass
to 50 g and measure the distance between the Un-stretched Position (blue line) and the
Resting Position (Green Line) by using the ruler. Repeat after increasing the mass in 25 g
increments till it reaches the maximum available value. Fill up this data in Table 4.
8- Plot a graph with force (= mg) on the y-axis and elongation on the x-axis. The slope of the
line is the spring constant, k, of the spring.
9- Suspend a mass of 100 grams from the spring. Pull it down by about 15.0 cm from the
Resting Position let it go. The spring will undergo simple harmonic motion. Use the
stopwatch available in the right-hand side to measure the time it takes to complete 25
vibrations and hence calculate the time period T. Repeat with masses 200 g and 300 g. Fill
up this data in Table 5. Use this data to verify equation 4.
10- For a fixed mass (select a value), measure the time period for initial displacement from the
resting position of 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0 cm. Fill up the data in Table 6, and study the effect
of amplitude on the time period.

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DATA: SIMPLE PENDULUM
Table 1
Length of Number of Time for N Time period, Period squared
pendulum, L vibrations, N vibrations, t T=t/N T2

Value of ‘g’ found from the graph: _________ Percent error in ‘g’: _________ (attach
graph)

Length of pendulum, L: ___________

Table 2
Initial Number of Time for N Time period,
displacement vibrations, N vibrations, t T=t/N
of sphere

5°
30°
45°
Write here your conclusions about the effect of displacement angle on the time period.

Length of pendulum, L: ___________

Table 3
Mass Number of Time for N Time period,
vibrations, N vibrations, t T=t/N

Write here your conclusions about the effect of mas of bob on the time period.

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DATA: SPRING-MASS SYSTEM
Table 4
Mass Force Elongation, ΔX
suspended stretching the
(m)
from the spring spring
( kg ) (N)

0.0 0.0 0.0

Force constant k of the spring: ______________ (attach graph)

Effect of mass on time period (Same amplitude, Different Masses)

Table 5
Mass Amplitude Time for Time Period Percent
suspende of 25 error
Experiment Calculated
d from the vibration vibrations
al value, T value
spring, M ,t
= t/25 (eqn 4)

Effect of amplitude on time period (Same mass, different amplitudes)

Table 6
Mass Amplitude Time for Time Period Percent
suspende of 25 error
Experiment Calculated
d from the vibration vibrations
al value, T value
spring, M ,t
= t/25 (eqn 4)

Write here your conclusions about the effect of amplitude on the time period.

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CALCULATIONS
1. Use the data from procedures 2 and 3, to obtain the time period T for each length L.
Then plot T2 on the y-axis versus L on the x-axis. Using the Least Square Line method
(see the lab manual on Error Analysis), fit a straight line to this data. The slope of this
line is 4π2/g. Use the slope to find the value of acceleration due to gravity, g. Compare
this with the accepted value and find the percent error.
2. Use this data of procedure 4 to determine the effect of angle on the time period of the
pendulum. Compare this with the theory.
3. Use the data of procedure 5 to determine the effect of mass on the time period of the
pendulum, and compare this with the theory.
4. Use the data of procedure 7 to find the elongation of the spring for each of the masses,
and plot the weight (not mass) on the y-axis versus the elongation on the x-axis. Use
linear least square fit to fit a straight line to the data. The slope of this line is the spring
constant k.
5. Use the data of procedure 8 to calculate the time period of the spring-mass system for
different masses. Compare these with the theoretical values and find the percent error.
6. Use the data of procedure 9 to calculate the time period of the spring-mass system for
different amplitudes of vibration. Compare these with the theoretical values and find
the percent errors.

Lab-2 Activity: Total points: 20 (submit to Canvas during

lab time):
1. screenshot of corresponding simulation in Table 4 [5%]
2. Finish data table-1 without g-value calculation and graph [15%].

This is NOT a full lab report (Please check the lab format on Lab-1
Canvas) (Total points: 80):
1. Typewriting (10%)
2. A title page and Table of Contents (5%):
o On the title page include your name and index number (your instructor will
assign you an index number in this course and it is used only in this course);
course name and number; the number, title and date of the experiment.
o The following page should contain the Table of Contents for this report.
3. Data and observations (40 %):
4. Data Analysis / Calculations (40 %):
5. Discussion/Conclusion (5%):