Simple Harmonic Motion

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Lab Partners: INTRODUCTION The lab experiment investigates the motion of a mass on a spring as an example of Simple Harmonic Motion. Other examples are pendulums, the stars pattern of reoccurrence in astrology, or the vibration of air molecules during the transmission of sound waves. THEORY Simple Harmonic Motion is periodic (repeating itself in equal intervals of time) and oscillatory (back and forth over the same path). Such as the orbit of Earth around the sun. SHM occurs when a “force acts in the direction opposite of the displacement of the body from its equilibrium position.” Force Displacement Equilibrium The period (time interval) of SHM is independent of the amplitude of the motion (displacement of the body or mass). EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES Spiral spring mounted on laboratory support containing metric ruler, slotted weights, weight hanger, stop watch, and triple beam balance. PROCEDURE I: A spiral spring is mounted on a laboratory support. To test the affect of amplitude on the period of vibration, four different displacements are timed for 50 complete vibrations of a 100 gram mass suspended on the spring. Procedure I: Suspending 100g for 50 vibrations at varying amplitudes. | TRIAL | AMPLITUDE | TIME FOR 50 VIBRATIONS (t) | PERIOD T = t50 | 1 | 5 cm | 41.7 s | 0.834 s/vibration | 2 | 10 cm | 41.8 s | 0.836 s/vibration | 3 | 15 cm | 41.9 s | 0.838 s/vibration | 4 | 20 cm | 42.4 s | 0.848 s/vibration | PROCEDURE II: The springs mass (MSPR), measured using a triple beam balance, was 172.4 grams. Three different masses were suspended at the end of the spring. Each mass was allowed to reach equilibrium before applying a 10cm displacement. Each was timed for 50 full vibrations. Procedure II: Suspending varying masses with constant amplitude of 10 cm. | | MSUS | m= MSUS+13(MSPR) | t | T = t50 | Tm | Trial |

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