Examining the Behaviour of Mass oscillating on a Spring

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Hamed Darvishian

Examining the Behaviour of Mass oscillating on a Spring

Method:

  1. Set up spring and mass so that vertical oscillations can be measured.
  2. Measure 10 oscillations of the spring as accurately as possible and then divided this by 10 to give the time for 1 oscillation.
  3. Do this for masses that are under the spring’s elastic limit.
  4. Take measurements and repeat the experiment at least 3 times
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Theory predicts that

for the loaded spring oscillator.

  1. Calculate the square of the period T² and draw a graph to check that it is proportional to m
  2. Calculate the gradient of the graph, hence calculating the constant k
  3. Do the Hooke’s law experiment to check whether you are right.

Apparatus

  • Stand  and clamp
  • Steel spring
  • Mass hangers with slotted masses, 100 g
  • Hand held stopwatch

Diagram:

Mass on a Spring:  

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