Machine Design Laboratory

Name:
Course:
Experiment #1
SPRING MASS SYSTEM

Objectives:

1. To determine the spring constant of the given spring.

2. To determine the natural frequency

Apparatus: Springs, Rigid Frame, Scale, Stop Watch, Weights.

Equation of Motion: Natural Frequency

Above figure shows a simple undamped spring-mass system, which is assumed to

move only along the vertical direction. It has one degree of freedom (DOF), because
its motion is described by a single coordinate y.

When placed into motion, oscillation will take place at the natural frequency 𝑓𝑛 which
is a property of the system. We now examine some of the basic concepts associated
with the free vibration of systems with one degree of freedom.

Newton's second law is the first basis for examining the motion of the system.

𝑘∆ = 𝑤 = 𝑚𝑔
The natural period of the oscillation is established from, 𝜔𝑛 𝑡 = 2𝜋 or

𝒎
𝒕 = 𝟐𝝅√
𝒌
and the natural frequency is
Procedure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=FJBPNJR2QJU&ab_channel=PhysicsDemos

1. To determine the spring stiffness:

a. Take the initial length of the spring.

b. Fix the spring to the frame and the pan to the other end of the spring.
c. The spring stretches due to pan weight. Take the final length.
d. Add weights to the pan and take the final length of the spring.
corresponding to the weights added and tabulate the results.
e. The above procedure is repeated for other springs.

Sl Weight inInitial FinalStaticSpringAverage inLengthindeflection instiffness

NO. Kgs Length inspring
mm mmmmN/mmstiffness in N /mm

1.

2.

3.

𝑘∆ = 𝑤 = 𝑚𝑔
𝒎𝒈
𝒌=( ) N/ mm
∆

2. To determine the natural frequency of

spring mass system and compare it with the
theoretical frequency:

Procedure:

a. Fix the spring to the rigid frame and attach pan to it.
b. Stretch the pan down and release it. The system oscillates. Note down the time
taken for 10 oscillations.
c. Repeat the above step with different weights on the pan and tabulate the
results.
Sl Weight in Times taken Frequency = Theoretical Error= theoretical
No. Kgs for 10 𝒏/𝒕 frequency in frequency- actual CPS
oscillations in CPS or HZ or HZfrequency
sec

K = spring stiffness used in the experiment in N /mm

𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 = = 𝒌 in cps or Hz
𝒏 𝑻 𝟐𝝅 √ 𝒎

3. To determine the natural frequency of spring mass system for springs in

series and compare it with the theoretical frequency:

Procedure:

a. Fix the spring to the rigid frame. Attach the second spring to the first spring
and attach pan to it.
b. Stretch the pan down and release it. The system oscillates. Note down the
time taken for 10 oscillations.
c. Repeat the above step with different weights on the pan and tabulate the
results
Sl Weight inTimes taken forFrequency =Theoretical Error =
No. Kgs 10 oscillations𝒏/𝒕 frequency CPS intheoretical
in secCPS or HZ or HZ frequency-
actual
frequency

Where 𝑘𝑒 is the equivalent spring stiffness in N /mm

𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 = = 𝒌
√ 𝒆 in CP or Hz
𝒏 𝑻
𝟐𝝅 𝒎
4. To determine the natural frequency of spring mass system for
springs in Parallel and compare it with the theoretical frequency:

Procedure:

a. Fix the spring to the rigid frame. Attach the second spring parallel to the first
spring. Insert a rod and attach pan at the center of the rod.
b. Stretch the pan down and release it. The system oscillates. Note down the
time taken for 10 oscillations.
c. Repeat the above step with different weights on the pan and tabulate the
results.

SlWeight inTimes taken forFrequency = Theoretical Error=Theoretical

No.Kgs10 oscillations𝒏/𝒕 frequency in frequency- actual CPS
in secCPS or HZ or HZfrequency

Specimen Calculation:
𝑘
Natural frequency, (theoretical) 𝑒
= √ rad /sec
𝜔𝑛 𝑚

𝟏 𝟏 𝒌𝒆
𝒇 = = √
Inference of the Results: