Objective:

The objective of this lab is to compare the natural frequency calculated theoretically for various
constants and lever arms to measure results for a non- damped oscillation.

Introduction and Theory:

For the purpose of design natural frequency is very important. The natural frequency is actually
the continuous or repeated external force. The natural frequency is actually the original
frequency of the lever arm which is not attainable at the specific vibrations. The natural
frequency is calculated as follow:

𝟏 𝟏 𝟑𝒌𝒂𝟐
𝒇= = √
𝑻 𝟐𝝅 𝒎𝑳𝟐

Where, f = natural frequency of the beam, m = mass of the beam, a, L are dimensional
parameters of the beam, k = spring constant of the beam.
Spring constant is used to measure the stiffness of spring. In this experiment we have used
different springs with the change of spring’s constant. As spring with greater spring constant are
stiffer. Sinusoidal wave has produced along with damping in natural frequency. We have
consider free vibration of natural frequency in this experiment. As we know that when the
frequency of the force of is not equal to the natural frequency of the system the amplitude of
resulting wave is small while when the frequency of the force of is equal to the natural frequency
of the system the amplitude of resulting wave is very large.

Apparatus:
1) Beam with different lever arms
2) Spring of different springs constant
3) Spring-beam apparatus
Variables:
1) Mass of beam
2) Spring constant
3) Length of beam
Method and Procedure:

 Calculate the spring frequency for the spring (K= 0.75 m/mm), a = 350mm, m = 1.68 kg
and L = 732 mm.
 Mount the springs carefully and secure with lock nuts.
 Align the beams horizontally.
 Insert pen
 Start Plotter
 Deflect beams by hand and let it oscillate.
 Stop plotter.
 From the plot, determine the experimental frequency and calculate the period.
 Repeat the experiment with other springs and lever arms.

Calculations:

Following calculations were performed for evaluating natural frequency of the beam considering
its mass.
Mass of the beam = 1.68 kg
Lever arm = a = 350mm, 650mm
Length of the beam = 732 mm
Spring constant of the spring = 0.75N/mm., 1500N/mm, 3000N/mm

TRIAL SPRING LEVER THEORETICAL EXPERIMENTAL Error

CONSTANT ARM NATURAL NATURAL %
(N/m) (m) FREQUENCY FREQUENCY
(Hz) (Hz)

1- 750 0.350 2.78 2.25 14.06%

2- 0.650 5.78 4 30.8%
3- 1500 0.350 3.44 4.25 7.8%
 4- 0.650 7.31 6 18%

5- 3000 0.350 5.564 5 11.03%

6- 0.650 10.344 9 13.7%
s
All the calculations were done using these formulaes:

𝟏 𝟏 𝟐
𝒇= = √𝟑𝒌𝒂𝟐 (For theoretical natural frequency)
𝑻 𝟐𝝅 𝒎𝑳

𝟏
𝒇= (For experimental natural frequency)
𝑻

RESULTS AND GRAPHS

THEORETICAL NATURAL FREQUENCY VS SPRING CONSTANTS:

THEORETICAL NATURAL FREQUENCY VS

SPRING CONSTANTS
LEVER ARM (0.350mm) LEVER ARM (0.650mm)

12
THEORETICAL NATURAL FREQUENCY

10
8
6
4
2
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
SPRING CONSTANT

EXPERIMENTAL NATURA FREQUENCY VS SPRING CONSTANTS:

 EXPERIMENTAL NATURAL FREQUENCY VS SPRING
EXPERIMENTAL NATURAL FREQUENCY

CONSTANTS
LEVER ARM (0.350mm) LEVER ARM (0.650 mm)

10

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
SRING CONSTANTS

SAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS

Mass of the beam = m = 1.68 kg

Length of the beam = L= 732 mm = 0.732 m
Spring constant = k = 750 N/m2
Lever arm = a = 0.350 m

𝟏 𝟐
𝒇= √𝟑𝒌𝒂𝟐
𝟐𝝅 𝒎𝑳

𝟏 𝟑(𝟕𝟓𝟎)(𝟎.𝟑𝟓)𝟐
𝒇= √(𝟏.𝟔𝟖)(𝟎.𝟕𝟑𝟐)𝟐
𝟐𝝅

𝒇 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟖 𝑯𝒛
Experimental frequency corresponding to natural frequency = 2.5 Hz

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 − 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

% 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 =
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
% 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟎𝟔 %