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Title: Simple Harmonic Motion

Aim: To determine the spring constant

Apparatus/Materials:
 Spring
 Slotted mass and holder
 Metre ruler
 Stop watch
 Retort stand with clamp
 Optical pin
Diagram:

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Principle/Theory:

 Provided that the elastic limit of a spring of natural length l0 is not exceeded ,
the extension e is proportional to the load Mg . The constant of proportionality k
in the equation is called the force constant or stiffness of the spring.
Mg =Ke
 K can simply be determined by measuring the increase in the length of the spring
as Mg is increased. There is only one slight problem: most springs are produced
with a slight compression of the turns. Thus for small loads no extension will be
registered ; it is therefore necessary to place a small load (about 0.5 N ) on the
spring to remove this compression .
 If a mass which produces an extension e is displaced vertically from its
equilibrium position by a small amount , the mass executes simple harmonic
motion because the restoring force is proportional to the displacement . The
period of oscillation is then given by ;
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑘

Procedure:

1. The Apparatus was assembled.

2. The optical pin was used to indicate on the metre rule the reading X0
when the spring supports the holder alone.
3. The mass M was increased in 50g intervals and the reading x on the metre
rule was recorded.
4. A graph of M against e was plotted.
5. The value of K was calculated.

Part II

1. The unknown mass was placed on the weight hanger and allowed to settle.
2. The mass-spring system was extended to about 2 cm below its equilibrium
position and released.
3. The time taken for 25 to 30 oscillations counted using a stopwatch. The
oscillations where counted when the mass reaches either the highest or the
lowest point.
4. The total time was tabulated and the T and T2 were calculated.

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Observations/Results:

Length of spring(m) Mass(Kg)

0.058 0
0.064 0.1
0.068 0.15
0.072 0.2
0.076 0.25
0.083 0.3
0.09 0.35
0.095 0.4
0.101 0.45

TABLE SHOWING THE LENGTH OF THE STRING AND THEIR

CORRESPONDING MASS.

Calculations:

𝑀𝑔 = 𝐾𝑒 𝐾 = 21.21
0.05 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231
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0.1 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231 𝐾 =127.27

𝐾 = 42.42
0.35 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231
0.15 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231 𝐾 =148.48
𝐾 = 63.64
0.40 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231
0.20 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231 𝐾 = 169.70
𝐾 = 84.85
0.45 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231
0.25 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231 𝐾 = 190.9
𝐾 = 106.06

0.30 × 9.8 = K × 0.0231

Average K: 116.67 Nm

M
T = 2π√ T = 2π√
0.15
= 0.225s
k 116.67
0.1
T = 2π√ = 0.184s
116.67

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0.2
T = 2π√ = 0.26s
116.67
0.35
T = 2π√ = 0.34s
0.25 116.67
T = 2π√ = 0.29s
116.67
0.4
T = 2π√ = 0.368s
116.67

0.3 0.45
T = 2π√ = 0.32s T = 2π√ = 0.39s
116.67 116.67
Average T: 0.297 s

Average T2 : 0.0882 s

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Discussion:
Hooke's law, law of elasticity discovered by the English scientist Robert Hooke in 1660 ,
that states that the force needed to extend or compress a spring by some distance x scales
linearly with respect to that distance. That is, where k is a constant factor characteristic of
the spring: its stiffness and x is small compared to the total possible deformation of the
spring. Simple harmonic motion is a special type of periodic motion or oscillation motion
where the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement and acts in the
direction opposite to that of displacement .Restoring force is a force that gives rise to an
equilibrium in a physical system. If the system is perturbed away from the equilibrium,
the restoring force will tend to bring the system back toward equilibrium. The restoring
force is a function only of position of the mass or particle. Oscillation refers to any
Periodic Motion moving at a distance about the equilibrium position and repeats itself
repeatedly for a period of time. Elasticity is the property of an object or material, which
causes it to be restored to its original shape after distortion. One of the properties of
elasticity is that it takes double the amount of force to stretch a spring twice as far.
Extension happens when an object increases in length, and compression happens when it
decreases in length. Force (F) is measured in Newtons (N), spring constant (k) is
measured in newtons per metre (N/m, extension (e), or increase in length, is measured in
metres (m). Spring constant is a measure of the stiffness of a spring up to its limit of
proportionality or elastic limit. The limit of proportionality refers to the point beyond
which Hooke's law is no longer true when stretching a material. The elastic limit of a
material is the furthest point it can be stretched or deformed while being able to return to
its previous shape. Once a material has gone past its elastic limit, its deformation is said
to be inelastic. The higher the spring constant, the stiffer the spring. The spring constant
is different for different elastic objects. For a given spring and other elastic objects, the
extension is directly proportional to the force applied. For example, if the force is
doubled, the extension doubles. This works until the limit of proportionality is exceeded.
When an elastic object is stretched beyond its limit of proportionality, the object does not
return to its original length when the force is removed. In this instance, the relationship
between force and extension changes from being linear, or directly proportional, to being
non-linear. Non-linear extension occurs more in some materials than others. Materials
like clay or putty usually show non-linear extension.

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Conclusion:
It can be concluded that the spring constant of a spring can be found. The spring constant
in this experiment was found to be 116.67 Nm. The period was found to be 0.297s and T2
was found to be 0.0822 s.

Limitations:

❋ Sources of error
 The stopwatch might not have been stopped on time.
 The mass-spring system might not have been extended pass 2 to 3cm.

❋Precaution
 It was ensured that the oscillations were counted when the mass
reached its highest.
 It was ensured that the experiment was done more than once to obtain
readings that are more accurate.
 It was ensured that the spring did not pass its elastic limit.
 It was ensured the initial downwards displacement of the spring did
not exceed e.

Reflection:
Hooke's Law can be applied to many things in everyday life. Most commonly, Hooke’s
Law is applied in springs because of their elasticity. Since springs are one of the most
common Hookean objects, Hooke's Law is frequently applied in mechanics and
engineering. Hooke’s Law affects any object that utilizes a spring of some sort. For
example, the spring of a retractable pen is stretched a certain distance by the force that
the user applies on the pen when pushing down on the top of the pen. Hooke's Law is also
used in other everyday objects such as trampolines, where Hooke's Law is applied when
the springs that hold up the center of the trampoline all stretch when a person jump on the
trampoline. The force of the person jumping on the trampoline translates into the springs,
causing them to stretch a certain distance. The most common object that applies Hooke's
Law is the rubber band. The rubber band is a simple representation that when different
forces are applied to the rubber band, it will stretch accordingly to the amount of force
applied.

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