What determines the period of a mass-spring system?

        T=time measured/the number of oscillation

Equipment and materials:

• 10x20g slotted weights
• 4 copper springs
• 4 iron springs
• A retort stand and clamp
• A stopwatch
• A half-metre ruler

Procedure:

1. Hang the mass on the copper spring and hang the spring on the clamp.
2. Start the oscillation and, at the same time, start the stopwatch to measure 30 oscillations.
3. With the same amount of mass, increase the number of springs used in hanging the mass in series.
4. Then replace the whole system with only one copper spring and start the oscillation with a increasing number of mass and find out the time taken.
5. After that, replace the system with a copper spring and repeat the oscillation and then use an iron spring while using the same amount of mass.
6. Then replace the whole system with a copper spring and with the same amount of mass add an increasing number of springs alongside.

Results:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Precautions

1. Springs have an elastic limit. Therefore we should not pull it too hard as this might cause the spring to exist its elastic limit and thus the spring could not be used again.
2. The heavier the mass, the larger the force during oscillation. So care must be taken while trying to stop the oscillation after the experiment.
3. Care must be taken so that the mass would not hit the table and the floor which would create great damage because of the large force.

Interpretation:

According to the results, the heavier the mass, there is an increase in the period of the oscillation. This is because of the force acting on the mass. As the oscillation is going on, the weight of the mass remains the same, but the net force keep changing and this leads to a change in the acceleration and the greater the change in acceleration, the longer the period and this happens to a heavier mass. Besides, as the number of springs used in series increases, the period is longer, as the spring need a longer to fully transfer all the kinetic energy into potential energy, vice versa, during oscillation. With different materials used to make the springs, the period changes because of different elasticity. Moreover, with an increase in the number of spring alongside each other, the period decreases. This is because the elasticity decreases with more springs and this leads to shorter period for the oscillation.

Possible errors:

1. There is reaction time when pressing the stopwatch. Thus the time recorded is not 100% percent.
2. There’s little damage to the mass and this would affect the weight of the mass.
3. The copper spring is of different width with the iron spring, and this may also lead to a difference in the elasticity of the springs.

Improvement:

1. The mass used is in a spherical shape so that the center of weight could be found easily.
2. The same part of the experiment is repeated to ensure the accuracy of the results.

Conclusion:

The period of the oscillation is affected by several factors. The material used to make the spring could affect the period. An iron spring would results in a shorter period. With an increase in the number of springs used in series and the weight of mass, the time for a period of oscillation also increase. However, with a rise in the number of springs used alongside each other, the period decreases.