Name of the experiment: To determine the spring constant and effective mass
of a given spiral spring.
1.1 Objectives:
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.
1.2 Pre-lab:
Student should read the lab manual and have clear idea about the objective, time frame and
outcomes of the lab.
1.3 Outcomes:
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 2 Hours 20 Minutes):
• 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):
▪ Lab assistant will show the procedure of the experiment using the necessary
equipment.
• Experimental Work (60 to 70 minutes):
▪ A sample data table will be provided to students and teacher will clarify
every part of it.
▪ Students will do all the calculations, draw graphs in excel and complete the
result part.
• 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, students will submit their lab reports 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 𝑚0 + 𝑚 ′
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ = 2𝜋√ … … … … (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.
𝑷
𝒚
𝒚𝟎 𝒅𝒎 𝒗
𝑨
𝒎𝟎
𝒗𝟎
𝒍
𝑶
𝑩 𝒙
𝒎𝟎
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 𝑣0 (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 𝑣0 .
It is evident that the ratio between 𝑣 and 𝑣0 is just the ratio between 𝑦 and 𝑦0 .
𝑣 𝑣
Hence, 𝑦 = 𝑦0
0
𝑣0
⇒𝑣= 𝑦
𝑦0
𝑑𝑚 𝑑𝑦
Similarly, we have, =
𝑚 𝑦0
𝑚
⇒ 𝑑𝑚 = 𝑑𝑦
𝑦0
1 1 𝑣2 𝑚 1 𝑣2
Now the kinetic energy of the spring element= 2 𝑣 2 𝑑𝑚 = 2 . 𝑦02 𝑦 2 . 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 2 𝑦03 𝑚𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
0 0 0
𝑦 1 𝑣2
And the kinetic energy of the spring= ∫0 0 2 𝑦03 𝑚𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
0
1 𝑣2 𝑦3 𝑦
= 2 𝑦03 𝑚[ 3 ]00
0
1 𝑣2 𝑦03
= 2 𝑦03 𝑚
0 3
1 𝑚
= 2 ( 3 )𝑣02
1 𝑚
Then the total kinetic energy of the system= 2 (𝑚0 + 3 )𝑣02
𝑚
Therefore, the effective mass of the system is (𝑚0 + 3 ) and the effective mass of the spring,
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
[Link] 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 graph
𝑚
is 𝑚′ = 3 .
1.8 Observations:
(A) Length of the spring, 𝐿 = … … … … … 𝑐𝑚
Original mass of the spring, 𝑚 = … … … … … 𝑔
(B) Determinations of extensions and time periods:
Table: Determinations of extensions and time periods
No. Loads Extension [Link] Total time 𝒕 Time 𝑻𝟐
of 𝒎𝟎 𝒍 vibration (s) period 𝑻 = (𝒔𝟐 )
obs. (g) (cm) 𝒏 𝒕/𝒏 (s)
6
Ext vs Load y = 0.1216x - 20.433
30
25
20
Ext (cm)
15
10
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Load (g)
T2 vs m0 y = 0.0061x + 0.3009
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
T2 (s2)
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250
-0.2
m0 (g)
1.9 Analysis:
We know,
𝑚0 𝑔
𝑘= 𝑔⇒𝑘= 𝑙
𝑙 ( )
𝑚0
𝑙
But 𝑚 is the slope from the first graph,
0
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 = … … … … … 𝑔
1 1
So, the original effective mass = 3 𝑚 = 3 × … … … … … . 𝑔
= ………………𝑔
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒
Again, From graph effective mass, 𝑚′ = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 = ⋯ … … … ….
= .𝑔
1.10 Error Calculation:
𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔−𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
Percentage difference = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
=− − − − − − − − − − − − − × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
= … … … … … … … … …. %
1.11 Result:
The spring constant 𝑘 = ⋯ … … … … … … … . 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚
Experimental effective mass, 𝑚′ = … … … … … … 𝑔
% of error= … … … … … … … … . %
1.12 Discussions:
1.13 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: [Link]
Spring constant: [Link]
Effective mass: [Link]