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1.0) ABSTRACT

This experiment that we have conducted introduces and shows basic principle
involved in free a vibration which is the Newton’s Second Law. In this experiment, we have
to determine the spring constant and natural frequency of experimentally and theoretically.
The spring constant is a measure of how stiff and strong the spring is. The force is applied to
compress or stretch the string, by the mean of distance of compress/stretch of spring before
and after applied force. The natural frequency is the frequencyat which a system tends
tooscillatein the absence of any driving or damping force. Natural frequency can be either
undamped or damped, depending on whether the system has significant damping, but in this
experiment, the natural frequency of spring mass system is without damping.This experiment
was divided into two parts, first part is to determine the spring constant by adding additional
mass. The deflection on the chart paper was recorded and the spring constant was
calculated.The experimental spring constant is the gradient of load vs extension graph, which
is directly proportional.For the second parts, we have to determine the natural frequency by
oscillating the spring only.As mass added increases, the natural frequency decreases, due to
the lengthen of the period of oscillations. Furthermore, the experimental value moves closer
to the theoretical value as mass added increases but slightly difference due to the errors occur
during the experiment.

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2.0) Table of Content

No Content Page
1. Abstract
2. Table of Contents
3. List of Tables
4. List of Figures
5. Introduction
6. Theory
7. Experimental Procedures
8. Results
9. Discussion
10. Conclusions
11. References
12. Appendices and Raw Data

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3.0) List of table

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4.0) List of Figure

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5.0) Introduction

Free vibration is vibration that takes place when a system oscillates under the action of
forcesinherent in the system itself. The system under free vibration will vibrate at one or
more of itsnatural frequencies, which are properties of the dynamics system established by its
mass andstiffness distribution. The experiment was divided into two main parts. For the
theoreticalvalue of the experiment,ωn=√ k /m was used. To find the value of spring constant,
kthe weights were added to the spring and the extensions were noted. This value was then
used to findthe theoretical value of natural frequency. Next, the naturalfrequency was found
by first finding the time period of the oscillation and then substituting it into ωn=2 π /T .

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6.0) Theory

A vibration is the periodic motion of the body or system of connected bodies displaced
from a position of equilibrium. The simplest type of vibrating motion is undamped free
vibration as shown in the figure A. When the block is in equilibrium, the spring exerts an
upward force of 𝐹=𝑊=𝑚𝑔 on the block. Hence, when the block is displaced downwards
from the initial position, the magnitude of the spring force becomes

𝐹=𝑊+𝑘𝑦.
Appling equation of motion give:
Σ𝐹=𝑚𝑦̈ - Equation 1
Hence, −𝑊−𝑘𝑦+𝑊=𝑚𝑦̈
−𝑘𝑦=𝑚𝑦̈ - Equation 2

Since the acceleration of the block is proportional to the block’s displacement, the motion can
be also described in simple harmonic motion. Rearranging the terms into ‘standard form’
gives

𝑦̈+𝜔2𝑦=0 - Equation 3

Where the natural frequency of the system is given by;

𝜔=√𝑘/𝑚= 2πf - Equation 4

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7.0) Experimental Procedures

Apparatus

Figure 1

1. Base
2. Guide Columns
3. Carriage
4. Additional masses
5. Guided Rollers
6. Damper
7. Helical Spring
8. Adjuster
9. Mech Recorder

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Procedure 1: To determine the spring Constant K

1. Plotter pen and paper graph were fitted with the mechanical recorder

Figure 2

2. Weight from carriage removed

3. The adjuster was setted such that plotter pen is on 20mm line on graph paper.

Figure 3

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4. The Spring loaded by placing 2kg weight on carriage.

Figure 4

5. The spring has made sure to stop by hold the carriage

Figure 5

6. The recorder was briefly started by pressing the button after each 2kg mass was added.

Figure 6

7. The stepped curved from the graph were read and the data obtained tabulated into results.
8.The experiment repeated from step 4 until 6 with add 4,6,8 and 10 kg masses.

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Procedure 2: To determine natural frequency

1.Plotter pen and paper graph were fitted with the mechanical recorder

2. The experiment started with 1.25kg from the frame and no masses attached.

Figure 7

3. The adjuster used to set height of carriage such that stylus is centred on paper.

Figure 8

4. Recorder started.

5. The carriage deflected downwards by hand and allowed to oscillate freely until it comes to
rest.

Figure 9

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6. The recorder stoped.

7. The curved from the graph were read and the data obtained tabulated into results.

8.The experiment repeated from step 2 until 7 with additional masses of 4,6,8 and 10 kg and
secured with knurled nut

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8.0) Results

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9.0) Discussion

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10.0) Conclusion

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11.0) References

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12.0) Appendices and Raw Data

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