Question

Simple Harmonic Motion: Mass on Spring

(Explanation of lab.)

[ The intentions of this lab were to further our understanding of spring mass motion by creating a harmonic motion system to find values for spring force and oscillation periods. By the end of the experiment, our group was able to experimentally determine how the measure of spring constant, k, in a harmonic motion system depends upon oscillation periods and ??y. We began our finding of k by running the experiment to find a constant amplitude, measuring a constant mass and k. Following this, we applied our constant amplitude to find measurements of period for different masses, increasing in increments of 5g. Experimentally finding the ??y of the mass on the string with each trial of increasing mass, allowed us to determine spring’s strength constant, k. The results of the experiment showed an increase in applied force, or mass weight, with respect to ??y and an increase in oscillation period with respect to mass, which we supported graphically. In this lab, we hung a spring with the narrower tapered end at the top of the system. We attached this system to a meter stick to be able to analyze the specific stretch of the mass initially and with time. With a mass hanger attached to the less tightly wounded side of the spring, we were able to manipulate mass, recording the time of oscillations and distance for each trial, to later analyze their correlation. ]

A.) If you had the opportunity to use stronger and weaker springs than the one you used, make an argument that predicts whether the period will increase or decrease if a stronger spring was used.

B.) How would the sproing-mass clocks, of the type studied, work on the moon? Would they keep the same time on Earth? Why or why not?

Answer 1

A)

the period of oscillation is

m= mass

k = spring constant

strength of the spring directly proportional to spring constant. i.e for stranger spring spring constant is more. and as time period is inversly proportional o squareroot of spring constant so the time period increases.

and for week spring the time period is more as spring constant is less.

2)

THE weight on moon is less than the weight on earth. as mass is directly proportional to the period of oscillation when weight decreases the period of oscillation decreases.