Alvarez+lab+17

Procedure: In this lab we studied simple harmonic motion with a spring that consisted of a high tech spring with a high tech weight on the end. We had to find 2 main things 1 The relationship between mass and period of a spring 2 The relationship between amplitude (angle) and period of a spring

We set up our spring by hooking on end of the spring to an iron ring stand and the other side was connected to a weight. This allowed the mass to have enough room to move up and down.

Throughout the lab we changed many things in the first part we changed mass so we started at 50 g and went up on 20 g intervals

we also changed amplitude which made us change the distance from equilibrium find 10 degrees and up to 50 degrees going up 10 degree intervals.


 * Mass(kg) || Amplitude (cm) || Period (s) ||
 * 70 || 3.0 || .70 ||
 * 70 || 6.0 || .70 ||
 * 70 || 9.0 || .71 ||
 * 70 || 12.0 || .71 ||
 * 70 || 15.0 || .71 ||



When changing the amplitude of the spring mass system the period did not change. The change in amplitude was evident by the slope of the amplitude vs time graph which was 0.

As you can see from this mass vs time graph, as the mass increases on the spring mass system the period also increases.
 * Mass (g) || Amplitude (cm) || Period (s) ||
 * 50 || 6 || 6.3 ||
 * 70 || 6 || 7.4 ||
 * 90 || 6 || 8.2 ||
 * 110 || 6 || 9.0 ||
 * 130 || 6 || 10.1 ||

Analysis: The equation to find the period of a spring mass system is T=2(pi) (m/k)^1/2. The only variables that can affect the period is the mass or the spring constant. When finding the relationship between the amplitude and period we found that a change in amplitude did not relate to a change in period. When analysing the relationship between the mass on the spring and the period, there was a direct relationship between them. This is because of the question listed above, as the mass increases so does the period because mass in on the numerator.