AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Summer 2022
Section: L , Group: 8

LAB REPORT ON
Determination of the spring constant and effective mass of a given spiral spring.

Supervised By
MD. Masud Parvez

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. Tasneem Binte Ameen 19-41533-3
2. Mushfique Redwan Labib 22-47132-1
3. MD. Faiyaz Hasan 22-46820-1
4.Habib Bahar Nishan 21-45657-3

Date of Submission: 6 June, 2022

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page no.

I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3
2. Apparatus 4
3. Procedure 4
4. Experimental Data 5
5. Analysis and Calculation 8
6. Result 9
7. Discussion 9
8. References -
9. Appendices -
1. Theory

Consider, a spring is clamped vertically at the end P and loaded with a mass m 0 at the other
end a.The spring extends to the position O by adding a suitable weight to the free end A. If the
extension is 𝑙 (as shown in figure 1) then,

mo g=kl

m0
∴ k= g … … … … … …(1)
l

Where 𝑘 is the spring constant of the given spiral spring.

Now, the period of vibration of the spring along a vertical line is given by,

T =2 π
√ M
k
=2 π
√m0+ m'
k
… … … …(2)

Where m’ is a constant called the effective mass of the spring and 𝑘 is the spring constant
i.e. the ratio between the added force and the corresponding extension of the spring.

Figure-1: Measuring spring constant and effective mass

How the mass of the spring contributes to the effective mass of the vibrating system can be shown
as follows: Consider the kinetic energy of a spring and its load undergoing a simple harmonic
motion. At the instant under consideration, let the load 𝑚0 be moving with velocity 𝑣0 (as shown in
figure 1). At the same instant, an element 𝑑𝑚 of the mass 𝑚 of the spring will also be moving up
but with a velocity 𝑣 which is smaller than 𝑣0. It is evident that the ratio between 𝑣 and 𝑣0 is just
the ratio between 𝑦 and 𝑦0.

v v
Hence , = 0
y y0

v0
¿,v= y
y0

dm dy
similarly we have , =
m y0

m
∴ dm= dy
y0

2 2
1 2 1 v0 2 m 1v
Now the kinetic energy of the spring element = v dm= y dy = 02 m y 2 dy
2 2 y0 y0
2
2 y0

And the kinetic energy of spring

Then the total kinetic energy of the system=

1
2( m 2
m0 + v 0
3 )
Therefore, the effective mass of the system is (𝑚0 + 𝑚/3) and the effective mass of the spring,

m
m' = … … … ..(3)
3
2. Apparatus
 A spiral spring,
 Convenient masses with hanging arrangement,
 Clamp,
 Stop clock
 Scale.

3. Procedure

1. The spring was suspended by a hook attached to a rigid framework of heavy metal rods
2.  The length of the spring was measured with a meter scale. The extensions of the spring were
measured by putting a scale behind the spring.
3. A suitable weight was added to the free end of the spring, and it extended to the position O. On
the reference frame was put behind the spring, the position O was noted and the extension 𝑙 was
read.
4.  The load from position O was pulled to a moderately low position B and then it should be
allowed to go. The spring had started to execute simple harmonic motion and vibrate up and down
about the position O then. With a stop clock the time was taken for 20 vibrations and the time
period T was computed in sec per vibration.
5. Operation (3) and (4) were Repeated for at least 6 sets of loads.
6.  Graphs were drawn with added loads 𝑚0 in grams (abscissa) against the extensions of the
spring 𝑙 in cm (ordinate) and with 𝑇 2 as a function of 𝑚0. the best fitted lines through the points
were drawn.
7.  The spring constant was calculated by using the slope of the first graph.
8. The second graph does not pass through the origin owing to the mass of the spring which had not
been considered in drawing it. The intercept of the resulting line on the mass axis gave the effective
mass of the sprig.
9. The mass 𝑚 of the spring was measured and was showed that the effective mass obtained from
the graph is 𝑚′ = 𝑚 /3.  
4. Experimental Data

Observations:

(A) Length of the spring, 𝐿 = 17 𝑐𝑚

Original mass of the spring, 𝑚 = 66.3 𝑔𝑚

(B) Determinations of extensions and time periods:

Table: Determinations of extensions and time periods

No. Loads Extension No. of Total time Time 𝑻𝟐

of 𝒎𝟎 𝒍 vibration 𝒕 period
𝒔𝟐
obs. (gm) (cm) 𝒏 (s) 𝑻 = 𝒕/𝒏
(s)
1 50 2 20 11.58 0.579 0.335

2 75 5.5 20 15.40 0.770 0.600

3 125 16 20 21.94 1.097 1.203

4 150 21 20 23.66 1.183 1.399

5 175 27.5 20 27.00 1.350 1.822

Graph:
Graph 1: I vs m0

Graph 2: T2 vs m0
5. Analysis and Calculation

We know,

g
m0 k=
k = g or l
l m 0

l
But is the slope from the first graph,
m0

g
k= dyne/cm
slope

Graph – 1,

Load (x axis),

mmin =100g
mmax = 400g

So, m˳= mmax - mmin

= (400 – 100) g
= 300 g

Extension (y axis),

lmin =10.5 cm
lmax = 24 cm

So, l = lmax - lmin

= (24 – 10.5) cm
= 13.5 cm

Slope, l/m˳ = (13.5/300) cm/g = 0.045cm/g

Now, from the first graph we have, slope = 0.045cm/g

 g 981
∴ k= = =4804.12 dyne /cm
slope 0.2042

The original mass of the spring, 𝑚 = 66.3 gm

1 1
So, the original effective mass = m= × 66.3 gm=21.1 gm
3 3

Again, From graph effective mass, 𝑚′ = 22.45 gm ¿

0+ 0.0663
∴ x= =28.82 ¿
0.0023

Percentage of error ¿|Original effectiveOriginal

mass−Experimental effective mass
effective mass |× 100
¿| |×100 %=1.58 %
22.1−22.45
22.1

6. Result

The spring constant 𝑘 = 4804.12 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚

Experimental effective mass, 𝑚′ = 22.45 𝑔𝑚

% of error = 1.58%
7. Discussion

1. We must be content while counting the vibration of the spring

2. We had to make sure that the spring is stable while taking the value of the length.

3. We had to avoid any kind of outside force while the spring is vibrating.

4. Pulling the spring must can be cause errors. So, we had to be constant about the stress.

5. We must be careful about the spring errors.

6. The meter scale should be vertical to the spring while taking value of the length.