Simple Harmonic Motion

1 GOAL
In this experiment, you will explore the harmonic oscillations of springs and the
simple pendulum. By measuring the oscillation period, you can determine the
spring constants for springs linked in parallel or series. For the pendulum oscillations,
you will also investigate the relationship between period, mass, and the length of
the pendulum.

2 THEORY
𝑑2 𝑥
For oscillation in a single dimension, combining Newton's second law ( 𝐹 = 𝑚 ) Hooke's law
𝑑𝑡 2

( = −𝑘𝑥, as above ) gives the second-order linear differential equation.

𝑑2 𝑥
𝐹=𝑚 (1)
𝑑𝑡 2
Where 𝑚 is the mass of the body, 𝑥 is its displacement from the mean position,
and 𝑘 is a constant.
The solutions to this differential are sinusoidal; one solution is
𝑥(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙), (2)

Where 𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙 are constants, and the equilibrium position is chosen to be the
origin. Each of these constants represents an important physical property of the
motion: 𝐴 is the amplitude, 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 is the angular frequency, and 𝜙 is the phase.
Using the techniques of differential calculus, the velocity and acceleration as a
function of time can be found:
𝑑𝑥
𝑣(𝑡) = = −𝐴𝜔 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙), (3)
𝑑𝑡

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 𝑑2𝑥
𝑎(𝑡) = 2 = −𝐴𝜔2 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙), (4)
𝑑𝑡
Acceleration can also be expressed as a function of displacement:
𝑎(𝑡) = −𝜔2 𝑥 (5)

A. Harmonic Oscillations of Spiral Springs

The force 𝐹⃗ = 𝑚𝑎 = −𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 = −𝑘𝑥, (see Fig. 1)

𝑘
𝜔2 = (6)
𝑚
Then since 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓,

1 𝑘
𝑓= √ (7)
2𝜋 𝑚

and since 𝑇 = 1/𝑓 where 𝑇 is the time period,

𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ (8)
𝑘
These equations demonstrate that period and frequency are independent of
the amplitude and the initial phase of the motion.

B. Pendulum Oscillations

The period of swing of a simple gravity pendulum depends on its length, the
acceleration of gravity, and to a small extent on the maximum angle that the
pendulum swings away from vertical, 𝜃0 , called the amplitude. It is independent
of the mass of the bob. If the amplitude is limited to small swings, the period 𝑇 of
a simple pendulum, the time taken for a complete cycle, is:

𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ , 𝜃0 ≪ 1 (9)
𝑔

Where 𝐿 is the length of the pendulum and 𝑔 is the local acceleration of gravity.

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3 SET-UP AND PROCEDURE
I. Harmonic Oscillations of Spiral Springs
The spring constant k is determined for different experimental set-ups from the
oscillation period and the suspended mass.

This experiment is a simulation using a virtual experiment program. Go to the

following link, download the program below, and install the program on your
computer.
http://www.algodoo.com/download/Algodoo_2_1_0-Win32.exe

Figure 1. Simulation Set up for measuring period of spring

a. In accordance with Fig. 1 the spring constants of two individual springs (one
soft springs and one hard spring) are measured.

b. In the case of a soft spring, left click on the spring figure to set the spring

constant to (3 ~ 6N / m) (soft spring) and damping to 0 as Fig. 2.

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 3 SET-UP AND PROCEDURE

Figure 2. Setting spring constant and Figure 3. Setting block’s mass and friction
damping for spring

c. Click the box at the top right as shown in Figure 3 to set the block mass to 0.06
~ 0.30kg and friction to 0. Left-click on the block to see the graph picture. Select

, and then select y-axis in position (x) and select a time span of

10s as shown in Figure 3.

d. After setting, move the block using the tool's move in the tool box to

compress the spring. Then click the “pause and start simulation” arrow on the

bottom to start the simulation.

d. As the block oscillates, you can see the sinusoidal graph is drawn in the graph
box. Some movement after, stop the motion by click the “pause and start

simulation” .

f. As in the figure 4. Read the starting point of the time interval to be measured.

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Also read the end point of the time period.

Figure 4 -1. Typical measurement result

Figure 4 -2. Typical measurement result

Count the number of oscillation and divide the time interval by the oscillation
number to find the period.
36.15𝑠 − 31.17𝑠
For example, in the figure: period =
5 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

f. Attempt 3 times for each mass for the soft spring. Then calculate the theoretical
period using the spring constant and fill in the table 1 .

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 3 SET-UP AND PROCEDURE

g. Change the mass of object to 210g ~ 300g and spring constant (hard spring)
20N/m. Repeat the process and fill in the table 2.
h. Set each of the springs oscillating with varying suspended masses (60 g for the
soft springs (SS1, SS2) and 210 g for the hard spring (HS)) and measure the period
T.
i. Hang two springs in parallel or in series and determine the total spring constant
(cf. Fig. 5, 6) for each case
 soft + soft, soft // soft, soft + hard, soft // hard (+: in series, //: in parallel).
How about the connection rules of spring constants in parallel and in series? Using
previously measured spring constants of SS1, SS2, and HS, calculate 𝑘𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 and
compare with measured values 𝑘𝑒𝑥𝑝 .

Figure 5. Experimental set-up for the Figure 6. Experimental set-up for the
parallel connection of springs series connection of springs

[notice] Experiment for series connection of springs

A series connection is shown in Figure 6, but since the spring end point is fixed to the background in
the simulation program, so a small trick is required in series connection.

a. Calculate firstly the spring constant value of the series connection with the theoretical value.

b. In simulation, use single spring instead of series connection, and set theoretical spring constant value.

c. As previous experiments, measure the period, and calculated the theoretical period.
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 3 SET-UP AND PROCEDURE

II. Pendulum Oscillations

The simple pendulum is composed of a small spherical ball suspended by a long,
light string which is attached to a support stand by a clamp. Investigate the
oscillation behavior of a pendulum (rod pendulum) by varying the length of a
string and the mass of the weight in a valid condition as small angle.
First of all, we need to make sure the range of the angular amplitudes which the
small angle approximation is valid.

<the relationship between period and angular amplitude>

a. The experimental set-up is arranged as shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 7. experimental set-up for the pendulum oscillations

b. When you set the pendulum, make sure the radius of sphere, string length and
then you can define the pendulum length (ℓ).

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 3 SET-UP AND PROCEDURE

c. Using the rotate icon on the toolbox, place the pendulum (move thread

first and then move the sphere) about 5° from its equilibrium position and set the

pendulum in motion as in the Figure 8.

Figure 8. Setting the angular amplitude

d. Left click on the mouse over the sphere and select show plot
as in the Figure 9. Select y-axis “ Position (x)” and X-axis at “Time”. Click the “start
and pause” arrow and measure the total time until it completes several
oscillations.

e. Determine the period by the results and repeat measuring the period for

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 several angular amplitude(e.g. 10°, 15°,

30°, 60°) and calculate the theoretical

value of the period and relative error to

plot the period as a function of the
amplitude graph.

f. Does the period vary as a function of

angular amplitudes? What range of angle

is the small angle approximation valid?
How about the mismatch from the
theoretical value if the amplitude of
pendulum movement is large? Why?

Figure 9. Setting the plot

<The relationship between period and pendulum length and mass>

To verify the relationship between period and pendulum length, measuring the
period for various string length.

a. Measure the period for several different string lengths. (e.g. about 30cm, 50cm,
70cm..) Be sure that you measure the length of the string and the center of the
mass (radius of sphere).

b. As same as the previous steps, place the pendulum at the small angle from its
equilibrium position to be valid enough from your results and set the pendulum in
motion and measure the total time until it completes 5~6 oscillations. Can you
deduce the gravitational acceleration from your data?

c. Plot the period squared, T2, as a function of the string length, ℓ. Is the square of
the period linearly proportional to the length of the pendulum length?
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 3 SET-UP AND PROCEDURE

d. Measure the oscillation period of the pendulum varying the pendulum mass

of the pendulum bob. Plot the mass vs. period graph on the data sheet to verify
the theoretical relationship of the pendulum period. From your data what effect
does changing the mass have on the period (for a given value of the length, ℓ)?

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