Lab report

Vertical-Mass spring system

Omar Nizar

20/1/2021

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Purpose:
How to determine the spring’s constant and the frictional forces using the relation between changing
the added mass and the length of the spring in a spring-mass in vertical oscillation system

Introduction
Simple harmonic motion is a type of oscillating motion where the magnitude of the force is directly
proportional to a displacement from a fixed point where the direction of that force is towards that fixed
equilibrium

Any change in shape and/or size of a body is called deformation. The force that is causing this
deformation is called a deforming force. Elastic deformation is when a body returns to its original shape
when the deforming force is removed. The force resisting the deformation is called a restoring force.

Discussion of principles
Through the law of proportionality of the deforming force and the change in length discovered
by Robert Hooke. , we can say that the deforming force is equal to the change in length times
some constant, this constant is called K which is the spring’s, constant equation (1)
f =−kx
A particle vibrating in SHM moves up and down between two maxima, the maximum
displacement from the equilibrium position is called the Amplitude equation (2)
y=± A

The time it takes for the particle to complete one full cycle is called period and frequency is the
number of cycle the particle makes per second usually measured in Hz equation (3)
1
f=
T
Displacement-time graphs are used a lot in oscillations and simple harmonic motion figure (1) shows the
sinusoidal motion of an object in SHH
Figure (1)

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Mass and spring system:

Figure (2)

Look at figure (2), A mass is hanging from a vertical spring and so a force is applied to it and causes it to
extent. We can show this mathematically using the equation below

f =−k ∆ y
Using equation (2) and equation (3) we can find equation (4)

a=4 π 2 f 2 A
To drive this equation, we need to reference to two equation from the IB data booklet which are

2π
w= ∧a=−w2 x
T
Then using equation (3) we find

1
f × T =1 so T =
f
2π
w= thenw=2 πf
1
f

a=−4 π 2 f ∧x= A so a=−4 π 2 f 2 A

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The derivation is shown more clearly on picture (1) next page

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Picture (1)

Note: this equation measures magnitude without direction

FBD:
When there is no motion, the acceleration is zero, and according to Newton’s second law then the net
force must also be zero. We see two forces acting on the mass, the force of the spring and the weight of
the mass. (figure 3) If there is no acceleration, then they should be equal

Figure 3

Since weight = mg and the force of the string = -ky we can use newton’s second law to write

mg−ky=0
k
m= y
g

Use equation 4 to substitute the acceleration

m (−4 π 2 f 2 y )=−ky
So

1 k
f=
2π √ m

m
T =2 π
√ k

Squaring both sides to get rid of the square root we get equation 5
m
T 2=4 π 2
k

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Personal Engagement:
When I was looking the equation is page 5, I noticed that acceleration is assigned a specific
constant value if the acceleration and amplitude is constant which is the case for SHM. Assume
the mass passing through the equilibrium position, it has 0 displacement and since F=ma and F
is proportional to -x then acceleration too has to be zero, which contradicts my equation
because the equilibrium is a point where acceleration is zero. Another question that confused
me was the fact that in the equilibrium, there is maximum speed, so acceleration should occur
there, but it occurs when the object is not moving, which doesn’t make since. The answer to
both these questions is the fact that the object alternates between potential and kinetic energy
when it is at the maximum displacement it has the maximum potential energy leading to
acceleration. In other words, the acceleration is not constant, it keeps changing and the
equation measures the maximum acceleration. As for the second question, we need to go back
to the initial meaning of velocity and acceleration, velocity is the distance an object can move in
a specific time with direction, while acceleration is how fast an object can change it’s velocity.
When the mass is not moving, it velocity is zero. When it starts moving there is a said value for
the velocity, meaning the object changing it’s velocity by a great deal. Therefore, the equation
used the amplitude instead of a displacement, concluding that when maximum displacement
occurs, maximum acceleration occurs. Which is confirmed by the laws of SHM.

Safety:
The experiment was carried out on a table meaning that the masses would fall from a high distance and
the heavier ones might cause damage to the feet of students if fallen. We made sure that if the mass
were to fall it would fall on the middle of the table. It was important for us to make sure that the mass
was attached strongly to the spring and that the spring was attached strongly to the stand. In addition,
it’s essential to makes sure that the stand is stable on the table and can hold the added masses without
falling or breaking.

Materials needed for the experiment:

- Assorted masses - Scale
- Spring - Ruler measurement stick
- Rope
- Stand
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 - Motion detector
- Cardboard

Variables:
Independent: the hanging mass, the weight

Dependent: the length of the spring

Control: the spring’s constant

Uncertainties:
Uncertainty [1] Systematic Uncertainties
The systematic uncertainty of the weighing balance limited to ±0.1g

The systematic uncertainty of the motion detector limited to ±0.01 seconds for time values and ±0.001
meters for distance measurements

In addition, the detector would sometimes detect measurements that don’t make sense, a very high or
low measurement due to a glitch by the detector, these measurements are cut out

Calculations of uncertainty vary since there are different measurements of time, distance and mass so
they are shown as error bars on graphs page 23

Uncertainty [2] The uncertainty of the height and stand

The stand at which the spring was hung from was sometimes tilting downwards due to the heavy mass
of the spring and the added mass, after every trial we adjusted it back into place but there is no way of
knowing if that was the same initial position from previous trials. This means that the spring was lower
and closer to the sensor of the motion detector in different trials. This doesn’t mean that the data we
got is wrong since the sensor measures from an initial point no matter if the spring was close or far from
it, but it means that we cannot compare this result with other results in terms of distance and
qualitative information since a heavy mass would have initial position of 5cm away from the senor, while
a lighter one can have the equilibrium position 3cm away from the sensor. Comparing these two result
wouldn’t make sense since a more massive object should pull the spring downwards more than a lighter
one, but because the height of the spring from the table is different the individual values can be true,
but in comparison and relative to each other it’s not logical. Since there is no way of putting this into a
mathematical description of uncertainty, I would estimate a 1% lack of precision in the result.

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Uncertainty [3]: the uncertainty of the mass of rope
We assume the rope at which the hanging masses were attached to have no mass while it did. This
means that there is another weight pulling down the string other than the set mass, the average mass of
a rubber band is 1.09 grams, leading an uncertainty in the added masses. Notice that table (1) shows +
instead of ± signs for uncertainty, this is because there is no way adding a rope can decrease the mass.
Note that the mass is in grams and the absolute uncertainty is rounded up to 1 to have one significant
figure.

Mass g Absolute uncertainty +g Fractional Uncertainty Percentage Uncertainty %

82.80 1 0.0131 1.3164
118.7 1 0.0091 0.9182
168.8 1 0.0064 0.6457
218.8 1 0.0049 0.4981
Table (1) uncertainty of the robe and masses

Data:
Qualitative data:
A known mass was attached to a vertical spring and was made to oscillate as the restoring force of the
spring was working against the weight of the masses as they were let go. A motion sensor detects the
movement from an equilibrium position and calculates displacement, velocity and acceleration. We
notice the length of the spring increases much more as we are adding a set with a larger mass. There
were three trials for every mass to minimize uncertainty.

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Quantitative Information
Raw Data:
Mass 1: 0.0828kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [1] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [1] data for trial 1 of mass 1

Note: Averages are found in page 23

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Raw Data:
Mass 1: 0.0828kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [2] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [2] data for trial 2 of mass 1

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Raw Data:
Mass 1: 0.0828kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [3] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [3] data for trial 3 of mass 1

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Raw Data:
Mass 2: 0.1187kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [1] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [4] data for trial 1 of mass 2

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Raw Data:
Mass 2: 0.1187kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [2] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [5] data for trial 2 of mass 2

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Raw Data:
Mass 2: 0.1187kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [3] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [6] data for trial 3 of mass 2

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Raw Data:
Mass 3: 0.1688kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [1] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [7] data for trial 1 of mass 3

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Raw Data:
Mass 3: 0.1688kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [2] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [8] data for trial 2 of mass 3

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Raw Data:
Mass 3: 0.1688kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [3] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [9] data for trial 3 of mass 3

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Raw Data:
Mass 4: 0.2187kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [1] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [10] data for trial 1 of mass 4

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Raw Data:
Mass 4: 0.2187kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [2] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [11] data for trial 2 of mass 4

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Raw Data:
Mass 4: 0.2187kg ±0.0011kg

Data from the sensor for trial [3] Showing Position/time, Velocity/time, Acceleration/time

Graph [12] data for trial 3 of mass 4

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Analysis and Averaged Data:
Each mass was oscillated in three trials, we can find the average of each displacement, velocity and
Trial 1+ Trial 2+Trial 3
acceleration using , the following data is shown below for each of the masses.
3
Keep in mind the systematic uncertainty of the motion detector limited to ±0.01 seconds for time values
and ±0.001 meters for distance measurements

Note: all the following graphs show the title of the graph and the y axis against time in seconds on the
x axis and graphs for the first mass may contain a lot of errors discussed in evaluation

Mass 1: 0.0828kg ±0.0011kg

Averaged Data found using excel for Displacement, Velocity and acceleration

Displacement
0.4520000
0.4500000
0.4480000
0.4460000
Positiion (m)

0.4440000
0.4420000
0.4400000
0.4380000
0.4360000
0.4340000
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
time (s)

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 Velocity
0.06

0.04

0.02
velocity (m/s)

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
-0.02

-0.04

-0.06

-0.08
time (s)

Acceleration
0.6

0.4
Acceleration (m/s^2)

0.2

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6
time (s)

Graph [13] averaged data for mass 1

Averaged Data:
Mass 2: 0.1187kg ±0.0011kg

Averaged Data found using excel for Displacement, Velocity and acceleration

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 Position(m)
0.6

0.5

0.4
position (m)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
time (s)

Velocity(m/s)
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
-0.1

-0.2

-0.3

-0.4

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 Acceleration(m/s²)
4

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
-1

-2

-3

-4

Graph [14] averaged data for mass 2

Averaged Data:
Mass 3: 0.1688kg ±0.0011kg

Averaged Data found using excel for Displacement, Velocity and acceleration

Position(m)
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3 Graph [15] averaged data
Axis Title

0.25 for mass 3

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
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0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
Axis Title
Analysis and Averaged Data:
Mass 4: 0.2187kg ±0.0011kg

Averaged Data found using excel for Displacement, Velocity and acceleration

Position(m)
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
position (m)

0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
time (s)

Velocity(m/s)
1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

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 Acceleration(m/s²)
6

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000

-2

-4

-6

Graph [16] averaged data for mass 4

Analysis 1:
We know a=−w 2 x to calculate negative acceleration using the amplitude which is the
maximum displacement so we can find angular frequency, frequency and period using

a
w=−
√ x
Dependent on this and the data from the graphs, we can find the following with using equation
3 and equation 4 (note the following show magnitudes without direction)

mass ±0.0011kg 0.0828 0.1187 0.1688 0.2187

Maximum Acceleration (m/s^2) 0.5266 2.7700 4.1500 4.8500
Amplitude ±0.001m 0.4433 0.4510 0.4600 0.4680
Angular frequency (w) rad/s 1.0899 2.4782 3.0036 3.2192
Period of Oscillation (s) 5.7619 2.5340 2.0900 1.9507

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 Frequency (Hz) 0.1735 0.3946 0.4782 0.5126
Table 1 determining the spring’s constant

Using the angular velocity, we found the time period which then can be used to find the
spring’s constant using equation 5 (note: those number equations were derived and explained
in the introduction)

4 π2 m
k=
T2
Which gives us results that vary for each mass and so we take average from

Spring’s constant in N/m

Mass 1 K= 0.9852
Mass 2 K= 0.7497
Mass 3 K= 1.5244
Mass 4 K= 2.2705
Average K = 1.84329
Table 2 determining the spring’s constant

We can use compare energy changes between mass 3 and mass 4

mass 3
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
position (m)

0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05 27 | P a g e
0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
time (S)
 mass 4
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
position (m)

0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
time (s)

Graph [17]

1 2 2
First to find the total energy of each system we can use ET = mw A
2
Amplitudes, masses and Angular speeds are present on the previous page and so we can find
Mass 3 ET = 0.1607 J
Mass 4 ET = 0.2452 J
Which makes sense for mass 4 to have more energy since it carries a heavier mass and so has a
greater energy summation of potential and kinetic

We can pick a point at which the mass has been displaced to in mass 4 and observe the
alternation between kinetic and potential energy.
If the mass was displaced to 0.4500 m then
EK= 0.0201 J
And EP = ET – EK = .2250 J

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 Position(m)
0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 200000 400000 600000 800000 1000000 1200000
-0.02

-0.04

-0.06

-0.08

-0.1

Graph [18] work energy theorem

Note this is mass 3 only subtracted the equilibrium position from it to make it clear
Let’s take to consecutive crests, first one displaced to 0.056m and second to 0.042m
We know from energy work theorem that ∆ E=w=fscos x we can calculate ET and find ∆ E
which is 1.0422 x 10−3 J now we can find the force lost between those two by dividing by the
difference between displacements which equals 0.07444 Newtons lost (only the two crests for
this mass)

Analysis 2:
We can find the lost forces using the proportionality by plotting mass against displacement since
Hooke’s law states that F=−kx so we can take maximum acceleration and maximum displacement
from each mass since a ∝−x in SHM.

From the data before we can take maximum values for acceleration and displacement and calculate the
force. We can also find the Amplitude referring to equation 2 since acceleration is the maximum
displacement position

mass ±0.0011kg 0.0828 0.1187 0.1688 0.2187

Maximum Acceleration (m/s^2) 0.5266 2.7700 4.1500 4.8500
Amplitude ±0.001m 0.4433 0.4510 0.4600 4.8500
Force (N) 0.0436 0.3288 0.7005 1.0606
Table 3 analysis

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 Force against displacement
3.5
f(x) = 82.68 x − 35.22
3 R² = 0.86

2.5

2
Force (N)

1.5

0.5

0
0.44 0.45 0.45 0.46 0.46 0.47 0.47
Displacement (m)

Graph [19] determining the spring’s constant

The graph has a y intercept of -18.239, this means that it needs 18.239 Newtons of force to
start from zero or in other words it had lost 18.239 due to outside forces (in addition to
uncertainties) mentioned in evaluation
The force lost due to drag force and air resistance is 18.239

Evaluation:
We calculated the spring’s constant to be 1.84 ±0.11N/m and drag forces to be 18.239 ±0.11N
and four different frequencies presents above
This experiment contained many limitations, starting with the mass of the spring in which we
assume is negligible which isn’t and has a weight force that was pulling down the added mass
which means that the actual spring’s constant is going to be greater than the one calculated, in
addition there is the mass of the robe which we assume is negligible.
Another limitation would be that drag force isn’t the only force that can cause the lose of
energy, the friction between the rope and the spring can lose some forces even though
insignificant but still present

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One of the most obvious errors in the experiment is trial 1 of the first mass which has some
really illogical values as for other values from the data sensor in which high masses had lower
displacements in certain areas which doesn’t make sense and where trimmed off or averaged
out, concluding to random error.
One of the strengths of the experiment was the three trials for each mass which leads to more
accurate results since any discontinuities were canceled out
The systematic uncertainties and the random errors do not impact the results in a large way
since the total uncertainty mass was 0.011kg, for time 0.01 seconds and distance was 0.001
kg x m 0. 011 x 0.001
meters. Since Newton= 2 then we can find uncertainty by =0.11 N and for
s 0.012
kg 0.011
the spring’s constant 2 = =0.11 N/m and so the percentage uncertainty for the spring is
s 0.1
0.11 0.11
x 100=5.97 % and for the lost forces is x 100=0.60 %which indicates high
1.84 18.239
precision in the experiment. There is no way to calculate the percentage error or accuracy since
the actual value was not assigned to be compared to
Whenever an oscillation occurs in reality it occurs in damped harmonic motion which results in
the system losing its energy due to friction which can be found using the work-energy theorem
and finding other ways to calculate the spring’s constant other than Hooke’s law which can be
proven effective in certain situation like when the mass or elongation isn’t given. Simple
harmonic motion and damped harmonic motion both follow the same set of rules except the
fact that simple harmonic motion is a theoretical idea case which doesn’t exist in the real world
An advice to someone who’d do further research is to take the mass of the spring in the lab
since it would provide another way for us to calculate the spring’s constant using “T^2 against
m” which would be effective for us since we can then compare the results and find a
percentage error

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