Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

Campus Mexico City

Physics II Group 6
Semester August-December
Professor: Tanu Singla

Project 1. Simple Harmonic Motion in a

Spring-Mass System

Team
Julieta González Galicia A01400862
Keila Abigail López Morales A01114750
Neysla Julián Vélez A01655447
Alan Adair Carbajal Reyes A01651626

Saturday, 2​nd​ November, 2019

ABSTRACT
Many physical systems exhibit simple harmonic motion: an oscillating pendulum, the electrons in a wire carrying
alternating current​, the vibrating particles of the medium in a sound wave, and other assemblages involving relatively
small oscillations about a position of stable equilibrium. In this paper, we study the oscillatory behavior of a spring-mass
system, with the objective to determine the Hooke’s Law spring constant to therefore determine the effective mass of the
spring.The materials were one spring and a few masses of different sizes, with the system installed we start to collect the
different data, to obtain the effective mass of the spring. The obtained results were compared with those reported by other
authors. The spring-mass system determinate that k is one of the principal physical variables that characterize the
oscillations, as ​k is strongly influenced by the spring, also the part determine the effective mass of the spring constant was
achieve.

Keywords: ​Spring-mass system, Hooke’s law, elastic constant, SHM, Keff.

INTRODUCTION
Simple harmonic motion is governed by a restorative force. For a spring-mass system, such as a block attached to a
spring, the spring force is responsible for the oscillation (Khan Academy, 2018).
In vertical springs, we need to remember that gravity stretches or compresses the spring beyond its natural length to the
equilibrium position. After we find the displaced position, we can set that as y = 0 and treat the vertical spring just as we
would a horizontal spring. Figure 1 below shows the resting position of a vertical spring and the equilibrium position of
the spring-mass system after it has stretched a distance d .

Figure 1. To the left of this image is the resting position of the spring and to the right is the displaced equilibrium position of the spring
when the mass is attached.

We can use a free body diagram to analyze the vertical motion of a spring mass system. We would represent the forces on
the block in Figure 2 as follows:

Figure 2. The forces on the spring-mass system in Figure 1.

Then, we can use Newton's second law to write an equation for the net force on the block:
ΣF = ma
= Fs − W
 = k x − mg
The block in figure 2 is not accelerating, so our equation simplifies to: k s − mg = 0

THEORY
David White of Science Buddies said that: “Hooke's law states that when a spring is displaced from its equilibrium
position, it experiences a restoring force proportional to the displacement from equilibrium and the spring constant”:
F = − kx
F is spring force (restoring force), k ​is the spring constant, and x is displacement (the magnitude of the distortion). The
magnitude of the spring force is directly proportional to the spring constant and the magnitude of displacement.
When a weight is add to a spring and stretch it then release it, the spring will oscillate before it returns to rest at its
equilibrium position. This system is called a simple harmonic oscillator (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Vertical oscillations of loaded spring.

Adding more weight to the spring, the period (mount of time) it takes to complete one oscillation cycle, changes. The next
equation relates period to mass, ​M:​

√
T = 2π m
k

2
T
M = k 4π 2

In an ideal spring-mass system, the load on the spring would just be the added weight. But real springs contribute some of
their own weight to the load. So the equation can be modified to look like this:
2
T
M = m + ms = k 4π 2

In this equation, the total mass pulling down on the spring is actually comprised of two masses, the added weight, ​m​, plus
a fraction of the mass of the spring, which we will call the mass equivalent of the spring, ​m​s.​ Solving the equation for m :

2
T
m = k 4π 2 − ms
PROCEDURE
The experimental setup to measure k , consist in a spring made of steel wire and masses of different sizes.

Picture 1. Materials for the experiment.

The experimental measurements were carried out using a series of three masses of different sizes, several objects with an
initial mass of m = 0.194 kg. The springs had a natural length of l0 = 0.105 m and had separation h between their coils
(h = 0.003 m). The number of coils for the spring was N = 40. Using a tape measure, the measurement of the elongation
Δx experienced by the spring was carried out when masses m were suspended at its free end. Performing a graphical
Δx
analysis of the applied slope k = ΔT 2 /4π 2
as a function of the elongation Δ​x experienced by the spring, the elastic constant
k​ was determined.

Picture 2. The elongation of the spring.

The oscillation period ​T was recorded using Google´s Science Journal. To measure ​T​, a initial mass m = 0.194 kg was
suspended at the free end of the spring, and it was elongated by a length Δx = 0.297 m from the equilibrium position, and
then it was allowed to oscillate freely.

Figure 4. Google´s Science Journal.

With the obtained value k from the slope line, the value of the effective mass of the spring was found.
 Picture 3. Established system for SHM.

Picture 4. Theoretical procedure.

Based on this equation, it will be able to find the spring constant, ​k,​ and the equivalent mass, ​m​s,​ of the spring.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Table 1. Mass 1 with three trials and the respective average of them in time and number of cycles.

n Mass 1 (kg) T (sec) Cycles

1 7 11

2 0.194 5 9

3 4 6

T (sec) 5.33
Average
Cycles 8.67

Table 2. Mass 2 with three trials and the respective average of them in time and number of cycles.

Trial Mass 2 (kg) T (sec) Cycles

1 4 6

2 0.145 4 5

3 2 2

T (sec) 3.33
Average
Cycles 4.33

Table 3. Mass 2 with three trials and the respective average of them in time and number of cycles.

Trial Mass 3 (kg) T (sec) Cycles

1 3 2

2 0.112 1 1

3 2 1

T (sec) 2
Average
Cycles 1.33

Tabla 4. Data that we use to determine the spring constant and spring’s effective mass.

Frequency ( f )
Mass (kg) Average cycles Period ( 1f ) (sec) T 2 /4π 2 ( sec2 )
(cycles/sec)

0.194 5.33 5.33 0.187 8.90x10-4

0.145 3.33 3.33 0.300 2.30x10-3

0.112 1.33 1.33 0.751 0.0143

 Graph 1. Mass versus T 2 /4π 2

Δm
Equation:​ S lope = k = ΔT 2 /4π 2

Table 5. In Δy we subtract one y value from another, larger y value from the graph 1, the same in Δx to obtain the value the spring
constant.

Mass (kg) T 2 /4π 2 ( sec2 ) Δy (kg) Δx ( sec2 ) Δy/Δx (kg/sec2 )

0.194 8.90x10-4 6x10-3 0.499 0.0120

0.145 2.30x10-3 0.055 0.4977 0.111

0.112 0.0143 0.088 0.486 0.1811

To determine the effective mass of the spring, we extend the straight line until it intersects the vertical y-axis. The line
will intersect the y-axis at ​- ms​ (negative ​m​s​). Based on theoretical considerations, the absolute value of ​m​s should be
around one-third of the mass of the spring.

Graph 2. The experimental value of the effective mass of the spring.

We obtained the experimental value of effective mass spring that is equal to, ms = 0.8552 kg we porcentual error of
20.4%, the values ​obtained are within the range, therefore they are acceptable along with a lower error rate.
CONCLUSIONS
The experimental study of simple harmonic motion of a spring-mass system shows that ​k is one the principal physical
variables that characterize the oscillations. The results obtained indicate that increases or adding mass in the spring lead to
increases in the elastic constant ​k.​ In this experiment the mass of the spring was considered, thanks to the results obtained
we were available to understand the term f ms , a fraction f of the spring’s mass ms , is the “effective mass of the spring”,
and also to complement our knowledge about ​SHM ​ a little more.

REFERENCES
- Eduardo E. Rodríguez, Gabriel A. Gesnouin. (February, 2007). Effective Mass of an Oscillating Spring. 26 Oct,
2019, de The Physics Teacher Sitio web:
http://users.df.uba.ar/cobelli/LaboratoriosBasicos/EffectiveMassOfSpring.pdf
- The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (April 05, 2019). Simple harmonic motion. October 26, 2019, de
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Sitio web: ​https://www.britannica.com/science/simple-harmonic-motion
- Triana, C.A., & Fajardo, F.. (2013). Experimental study of simple harmonic motion of a spring-mass system as a
function of spring diameter. ​Revista Brasileira de Ensino de Física,​ ​35(​ 4), 1-8.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1806-11172013000400005
- Unknow. (Jan 07, 2019). Verification of Hooke's Law. Oct 26, 2019, de SeminarsOnly Sitio web:
https://www.seminarsonly.com/Engineering-Projects/Physics/hookes-law.php
- The Editors of Khan Academy. (2019). Simple harmonic motion in spring-mass systems review. 26 Oct, 2019, de
Khan Academy Sitio web:
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-physics-1/simple-harmonic-motion-ap/spring-mass-systems-ap/a/simpl
e-harmonic-motion-of-spring-mass-systems-ap