AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Fall 2021-2022
Section: J, Group: 2

LAB REPORT ON

To determine the spring constant and effective mass of a given spiral spring.

Supervised By
Md. Masud Parvez
Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. ZELAN, ARIK AHMED 21-44600-1 I have done the Graph of this lab report.

2.ANTO, AVIJIT SAHA 21-44630-1 I have done the Calculation & Procedure of
this lab report.
3. NISHAT, TARIKUL ISLAM 21-44632-1 I have done the Theory of this lab report.

4.AZIZ, KHONDAKER 21-44398-1 I have done the Apparatus and Discussion of

FAISAL IBN this lab report.
5. ZIAN, TANVIR HOSSAIN 21-44655-1 I have done the Result & Experimental Data
of this lab report.

Date of Submission: November 9, 2021

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3-4
2. Apparatus 4
3. Procedure 5-6
4. Experimental Data 6
5. Analysis and Calculation 7-8
6. Result 8
7. Discussion 8
8. References 9

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 9

 1. Theory

Consider that at the end P, a spring is vertically clamped and loaded to the other end A with
the mass of m0. By applying adequate weight to the free end, A, the Spring stretches to position
A. the spring stretches to O. If l (as indicated in Figure 1) is the extension, then

𝑚𝑜 𝑔=𝑘𝑙

𝑚0
∴𝑘= ……………… (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√ 𝑘 =2𝜋√ ………… (2)
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.

Figure-1: Measuring spring constant and effective mass

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 3 of 9

How the mass of the spring contributes to the effective mass of the vibrating system can be
shown as follows:
Consider a spring's kinetic energy and its load in a simple harmonic movement.
Let the load 𝑚𝑜 move at speed 𝑣𝑜 instantly under consideration (as shown in figure-1).
At the same time, however a velocity v is lower than 𝑣𝑜 , yet an element dm of the mass m of
the spring will likewise go up.
It is evident that the ratio between 𝑣 and 𝑣0 is just the ratio between 𝑦 and 𝑦0.
𝑣 𝑣𝑜
Hence, =
𝑦 𝑦𝑜
𝑣
⇒𝑣=𝑦𝑜 𝑦
𝑜

𝑑𝑚 𝑑𝑦
Similarly, we have, =𝑦
𝑚
𝑚
⇒𝑑𝑚=𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑜

1 𝑣𝑜 2 𝑚 1 𝑣𝑜 2
Now the kinetic energy of the spring element = 2 2
𝑦 2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑚𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
𝑦𝑜 𝑜 2 𝑦𝑜 3

𝑦 1𝑣 2
And the kinetic energy of the spring = ∫0 𝑜 2𝑦𝑜 3 𝑚 𝑦𝑜 2 𝑑𝑦
𝑜

1𝑣 2 𝑦3 𝑦
= 2 𝑦𝑜 3 𝑚[ 3 ]0 𝑜
𝑜

1 𝑣𝑜 2 𝑦𝑜 3
3𝑚
= 2 𝑦𝑜 3

1 𝑚
= 2 ( 3 )𝑣𝑜 2
1 𝑚
Then the total kinetic energy of the system= 2 (𝑚0 + 3 ) 𝑣𝑜 2
𝑚
Therefore, the effective mass of the system is (𝑚𝑜 + 3 ) ) and the effective mass of the

spring.
𝑚
𝑚′ = …………(3)
3

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 4 of 9

2. Apparatus

1. A Spiral Spring
2. Convenient masses with hanging arrangement
3. Clamp
4. Stop Clock
5. Scale.

3. Procedure
1. Firstly, we suspend the spring from a strong framework of heavy metal rods using a hook.

2. Using a meter scale, we determined the length of the spring. By placing a scale behind it
the spring's extensions were measured.

3. After expanding the spring to position O, we added an appropriate weight to the free end
of the spring.

4. Then we released it by pulling the weight down from position O to a somewhat low point
The spring vibrated up and down around point O in a simple harmonic motion. Then we
calculated the time for 20 vibrations with a stopwatch and calculate the time-period T in
seconds per vibration.

5. After that we repeated steps 3 and 4 for a total of 6 sets of loads.

6. Then graphs with increased loads m0 in grams versus spring extensions l in cm, as well as
T2 as a function of 𝑚𝑜 were drawn.

7. We are using the slope of the first graph the spring constant was calculated.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 5 of 9

8. As the mass of the spring was not taken into account while generating the second graph,
so it did not pass through the origin. The effective mass of the spring is determined by the
intercept of the resulting line on the mass axis.

9. Lastly, we were measured the spring's mass m and m′=m/3 which is the effective mass was
determined from the graph.

4. Experimental Data

(A) Length of the spring, 𝐿 = 56 𝑐𝑚

Original mass of the spring, 𝑚 = 116 𝑔𝑚

(B) Table: Determinations of extensions and time periods:

No. of
Time
Number of Extension Vibrations
Loads Total Time Period
Obs. m0 / (g) l / (cm) n t / (s) T / (s) T2 / (s2)

1 150 8.5 20 13 0.65 0.423

2 200 12 20 15 0.75 0.5625

3 250 15 20 17 0.85 0.7225

4 300 18 20 18 0.9 0.81

5 350 21.5 20 20 1 1

6 400 24.5 20 21 1.05 1.1025

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 6 of 9

Graph:

l VS m0
30
24.5
25 y = 0.0637x21.5
- 0.9381

20 18
Extension

15
(cm)

15
𝒍

12

10 8.5

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Loads m0 (gm)

T 2 S 2 VS L o ad (gm)
1.6

1.4

1.2
y = 0.0027x + 0.0162
1
T2(S2)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2
0 100 200 300 400 500
T2S2 VS Load(gm)

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 7 of 9

 5. Analysis and Calculation
𝑚𝑜 𝑔
We know, 𝑘 = 𝑔⇒𝑘= 𝑙
𝑙 ( )
𝑚𝑜

𝑙
But 𝑚 is the slope from the first graph,
𝑜

𝑔
∴𝑘= 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚
Slope

Now, from the first graph we have, slope = 0.0637

𝑔 980
∴ 𝑘 = 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚
0.0637

= 15384.61 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚

The original mass of the spring, 𝑚 = 116 𝑔𝑚

1 1
So, the original effective mass = 𝑚= × 116 𝑔𝑚
3 3

= 38.67 𝑔𝑚
Again, From graph (2) effective mass, 𝑚′ = 82 𝑔𝑚

Original effective mass−Experimental effective mass

Percentage of error = × 100%
Original effective mass
38.67−82
Percentage of error = | | × 100%
38.67

Percentage of error = 112.05 %

6. Result
The spring constant 𝑘 =15384.61 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚
Experimental effective mass, 𝑚′ = 82 𝑔𝑚
Percentage (%) of error = 112.05 %

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 8 of 9

 7. Discussions

1. We were done this procedure under elastic limit.

2. Loading of weight in the spring was done gently.

3. We were measured Time of vibrations carefully and accurately.

4. We were noticed that the loading of weight did not touch the table surface.

5.We were measured the length of spring by meter scale very carefully.

6.We were careful about the spring errors.

8. References
• Fundamental of Physics (10th Edition): Newton’s second law of motion (Chapter 5, page
98-109).
• PRACTICAL PITTSICS for degree students (8. Sc. Pass, Honours and Engineering
Students) Dr. Gias Uddin Ahmad. B. Sc. Hons. M. Sc. (Dhaka), Ph. D. (Glasgow)

Professor, Department of Physics Bangladesh University of Engineering and

Technology, Dhaka.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 9 of 9