Springs and Simple Harmonice Motion.

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Springs and Simple Harmonice Motion.

The aim of my coursework is to investigate the properties of a spring when masses are suspended from it undergoing simple harmonic motion. The experiment was set up as follows:

The length of the spring without a mass suspended from it was measured. A 0.05kg mass was then suspended from the spring and the spring was measured again. The length without mass was 0.164m and the length with 0.05kg suspended was 0.249m.

Using this data I can work out that the extension of the spring was 0.085m (0.249 - 0.164). By using the formulas:

F=ke and F=mg

(F = Force(N), k = Spring constant, e = Extension(m), m = Mass(kg), g = acceleration due to gravity(ms-2)), and taking g as equal to 9.81 I can work out the spring constant (k) by doing the following:
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F = ke

Rearrange formula to get k

F/e = k

I know that F = mg and e in this case is 0.085

m is 0.05kg and g is taken as 9.81ms-2

Therefore,

F = 0.05 x 9.81

F = 0.4905N

Having found F I can use this to work out k:

k = F/e

k = 0.4905 / 0.085

k = 5.77 (3sf)

The spring constant in this case is 5.77. Using k I could predict the extension of this spring if the ...

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