Department of Physics and Electronics REPORT OF

LABORATORY

Simple harmonic motion in a spring

Jesus Ramire.

SUMMARY
The vertical spring oscillator was considered due to the friction conditions presented by the oscillator of a spring.
horizontally preventing the occurrence of uniform harmonic motion; the system consists of a spring from which a mass is hung at its lower end and in
the upper part suspends the spring from a fixed point, the hanging mass must be such that it does not damage the spring, due to the fact that it does not
it complies with the M.A.S; taking the above into account, the laboratory is conducted with two springs of different constants k, it will be verified
experimentally the relationship that exists between the oscillation period and the effective mass of the spring, it will also be confirmed that the
The period is directly proportional to the square root of the mass and inversely proportional to the square root of the constant.
dock.

Figure 1. The force exerted by a spring on a block

Objectives: varies with the displacement of the block from the position of
equilibrium x = 0. a) When x is positive (spring extended), the
the spring force is to the left. b) When x is zero, the
1. Check experimentally that the frequency
The spring force is zero (natural length of the spring). c)
angular for the harmonic oscillator (helical spring)
When x is negative (spring compressed), the force of
is given by = √ , where it is the constant of the spring is to the right. d) Graph of F against x for the
mass-spring system. The work done by the force of
dock and the oscillating mass. spring when the block moves from− The area of 0 is the
shaded triangle, .
2. Check that the period of the spring oscillator
helical is directly proportional to the square root
square of it is inversely proportional to the square root
square of . Figure 1 shows a common physical system for which
the force varies with position. A block on a surface
RELATED THEORY horizontal, frictionless, is connected to a spring. If the spring is
lengthens or compresses a distance from its configuration of
equilibrium will exert a force on the block given by:
=− (1)
Where x is the displacement of the block from its position of
equilibrium (x = 0) and k is a positive constant known as
spring force constant. This force law for springs
it is known as Hooke's law. Note that Hooke's law
it is only valid in the limiting case of small displacements. The
The value of k is a measure of the stiffness of the spring. The springs
rigid ones have high values of k, and loose springs have low values
small.
El signo negativo en la ecuación 1 significa que la fuerza
exerted by the spring is always directed in the opposite direction
to the displacement. For example, when x > 0, as in the figure
1a, the force of the spring is to the left, or negative.
When x < 0, as shown in figure 1c, the spring force is
to the right, or positive. Of course when x = 0, as in
in figure 1b, the spring is not deformed and = 0Since
the force of the spring always acts toward the position of
 Mass-Spring System

equilibrium, sometimes it receives the name of force

restorer. Suppose that the spring is compressed in such a way.
that the block moves a distance− from the position
of equilibrium. After it is released, the block moves from
− through zero until+ If the spring stretches until the
block is in and then it is released, the block moves from+
a− passing through zero.

{"a":"Figure 3. (a) Mass-spring system.","b":"(b) Mass-wire system."}

A thin wire figure 3, which provides a force

restorer equal to the product of a certain constant k by the
displacement with respect to equilibrium. This is useful for
identify, based on a system of a particularly type
Figure 2. Determinant of the force constant of a spring simple, the two characteristics that are essential in the
helical. The elongation of the spring is due to the attached weight establishment of the oscillating movement:
Due to the fact that the force of the spring balances the weight, it An inertial component, capable of transporting kinetic energy.
concludes that = / . An elastic component, capable of storing potential energy
A common technique to measure the force constant of a elastic.
the spring is described in figure 2. The spring is hung Admitting that Hooke's law is valid, a
vertically and then a mass m is attached to its end potential energy proportional to the square of the displacement
inferior. The spring stretches a distance starting from its of the body regarding balance. Assuming that all the
equilibrium position under the action of the load. since The inertia of the system is located in the final mass of the spring.
The force of the spring is directed upward. It must be balanced. a kinetic energy exactly equal to 2, 1

the weight acts downward when the system is at rest. In this 2

being the speed of the object.
In that case, we can apply Hooke's law and obtain | |= =
, o = . [1] Materials
Basic mass-spring problem
Permanent foot
Support rod, 600mm
Support rod 250mm
Slot weight plate, 10g
Slot weight, 10g
Slot weight, 50g
Buckle
Tape measure
4x4 digital counter
Sewing thread

ASSEMBLY AND PROCEDURE

3
 Mass-Spring System

For the realization of the experiment, a setup was created.

as shown in the figure of the guide, where initially is See tables 1 and 2.
he placed the spring with a constant of 20 N/m and weights were added
of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 grams respectively; and with the 2. See the third column of tables 1 and 2.
The stopwatch takes the period. Then the same is done. 3. Create a diagram with the values from the two tables.
procedure but with a spring constant of 3 N/m and function of mass m and parameter K What
masses of 10 to 70 grams. statement can be made about the influence of m and k,
about the period?
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
T vs m
0.45
y = 1.5545x0.5334
( ) ( ) ( ) 0.4

0.02 0.200 0.04 0.35

0.04 0.250 0.062 0.3

0.06 0.369 0.136 0.25

0.08 0.425 0.181 0.2

0,1 0.438 0.192 0.15

0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Table 1: Period of oscillation of the spring (with constant of
Graph 1: relationship between the period and the mass for the
elasticity K = 20N/m) subjected to different masses.
spring with a constant of 20 N/m.

( ) ( ) ( ) T vs m
0,01 0.435 0.189 1
y = 2.9819x0.428
0.02 0.541 0.293 0.9

0.03 0.631 0.398 0.8

0.04 0.743 0.552 0.7

0.05 0.828 0.685 0.6

0.5
0.06 0.910 0.828
0.4
0.07 0,988 0.976
0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07
Table 2: Period of oscillation of the spring (with constant of
Graph 2: relationship between the period and the mass for the
elasticity K= 3 N/m) subjected to different masses.
spring with a constant of 3 N/m.

In the two graphs for the different springs

constant k, it is observed that they are grade potentials
approximately 0.5 and that the period increases to
measure that increases mass.

4. Make another diagram,T 2based on the m with k as

parameter. What statement can be made regarding T and
What influence does k have on T.

Answers to the evaluation questions.

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 Mass-Spring System

k
It is important to say that the relationship= √ it is fulfilled, at
T^2 vs m m

0.25 observe the dependence on the period and on the variables

y = 2,115x - 0,0047 involvedk, mthat agrees with the theory
0.2 established.
0.15
By observing Graphs 3 and 4, it can be stated that the
0.1 the period is directly proportional to the square root of
0.05 the mass and therefore inversely proportional to the square root
square of the spring constant.
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12

Graph 3: relationship between the square of the period and the mass for REFERENCES
the spring constant of 20 N/m.
Physics for Sciences
Engineering, Volume I, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill Publishing
T^2 vs m Interamericana S.A, Mexico City, p. (180-182).
1,1
y = 5.5562x + 0.6219 A. P. French, 2000, Variations and waves, physics course
1 M.I.T., Editorial Reverté S. A. Spain, page (47-49)
0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
0.01 0.03 0.05 0.07 0.09

Graph 4: relationship between the squared period and the mass for l
spring with a constant of 3 N/m

5. Define the proportionality among the three magnitudes T, m,

K.
1
T 2∝ mT2∝

2∝ ∝√

Conclusions

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Mass-Spring System