LABORATORIUM FISIKA

FISIKA
LABORATORY MANUAL
George Ricarrson
2501987261

BINUS-ASO SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

 Experiment
Oscillation

I. OBJECTIVE
a. At the end of this topic students can understand and explain:
- Simple Harmonic Oscillator
- Oscillations on an Incline
- Springs in Series and Parallel
- Launch Speed

II. INTRODICTION
Simple Harmonic Oscillator and Oscillations on an Incline
For a mass attached to a spring, the theoretical period of oscillation is given by

T =2 π
√ m
k eq 1

where T is the time for one complete back-and-forth motion, m is the mass that is
oscillating, and k is the spring constant.
According to Hooke’s Law, the force, F , exerted by the spring is proportional to the
distance, x , by which the spring is compressed or stretched: F=kx , where k is the
spring constant. Thus the spring constant can be experimentally determined by applying
different forces to stretch the spring different distances. If force is plotted versus
distance, the slope of the resulting straight line is equal to k .

Springs in Series and Parallel

For a mass attached to a spring, the theoretical period of oscillation is given by eq 1
where T is the time for one complete back-and-forth motion, m is the mass that is
oscillating, and k is the spring constant. If the period of oscillation is measured, the
spring constant can be determined by
4 π2 m
k= 2
T eq 2

You will determine spring constant of a spring by measuring the period of oscillation
and mass of a cart attached to the spring. You will use the same method to determine the
effective spring constant of two identical springs combined in series and in parallel. For
each type of combination, you will discover the relationship between the spring constant
of the single spring and the effective spring constant of the combination.
 Launch Speed
In this experiment, you will qualitatively demonstrate how the final speed of the
plunger cart depends on its mass and the initial compression of the plunger spring.

III. PROCEDURE
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
a. Equipment
No Quantity Name
1 1 Track with Feet and End Stops
2 1 PAScar
3 2 250 gr Cart Masses
4 1 Super Pulley with Clamp
5 2 Harmonic Springs
6 1 Mass hanger and mass set
7 1 Stopwatch
8 1 Mass balance
9 1 String (about 2 m)

b. Laboratory Setup
Experiment Setup
Measurements to Find the Spring Constant and Theoretical Period
1. Measure the mass of the cart and record it in Table 1.
2. Install the feet on the track and level it.
3. Install the end stops about 1 m apart.
4. Clamp the pulley at one end of the track.
5. Set the cart on the track and attach a spring to each end. Attach the other ends
of the springs to the end stops (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 Simple harmonic Oscillator setup

 Table 1 Data and analysis
Mass of cart: 252,5 gr
Hanging Mass Position Force
5 gr 52,3 cm 0,231 N
15 gr 51 cm 0,225 N
25 gr 50,2 cm 0,221 N
35 gr 49,4 cm 0,218 N
45 gr 48,5 cm 0,214 N
g = 9,8 m/s 2

6. Tie a string to the lower attachment point of the cart. Run the string under one
end stop and over the pulley as shown in Figure 1. Attach the mass hanger to
the other end of the string. Adjust the pulley so that the string runs parallel to
the track.
7. Let the mass hang freely and wait for the cart to come to rest. Record the
mass of the hanger and the resting equilibrium position of the cart in Table
5.1.
8. Add mass to the hanger. Record the hanging mass and the new equilibrium
position of the cart in Table 1. Repeat this for a total of 5 different masses,
being careful not to over-stretch the springs.

Measuring the Experimental Period

9. Displace the cart from equilibrium and let it go. Time 5 oscillations and
record the time in Table 2.
10. Repeat this measurement at 5 times, using the same initial displacement.
11. Add a 250 g mass to the cart and repeat steps 9 and 10.

Table 2 Data and Analysis

Trial Time for Oscilations Period
1 4,94 s Period of cart
2 5,04 s without added
3 4,88 s masses
4 4,81 s
5 4,91 s
Average 4,916 s
1 6,68 s Period of mass with
2 6,78 s added masses
3 6,75 s
4 6,56 s
5 6,72 s
Average 6,698 s
c. Analysis

1. Calculate the forces applied by the hanging mass and write them in Table 1.
2. Using the data in Table 1, plot force versus position. Draw the best-fit
straight line through the data points and determine the slope of the line. The
slope is equal to the effective spring constant, k.
k = 0,442
3. Using the mass of the cart and the spring constant, calculate the theoretical
period of the cart alone and with added mass.
theoretical period of cart alone = 4,745 s
theoretical period of cart with added mass = 6,696 s
4. Does the period of oscillation increase or decrease as the mass is increases?
Does a more massive cart oscillate faster or slower? It decreases. It oscillates
slower.
5. If the initial displacement from equilibrium (the amplitude) is changed, does
the period of oscillation change? Try it. Yes, more amplitude results in
longer period.

Oscillations on an Incline
a. Equipment
No Quantity Name
1 1 Track with Feet and End Stops
2 1 PAScar
3 1 Pivot clamp
4 1 Base and support rod
5 2 Harmonic Springs
6 1 Mass hanger and mass set
7 1 Stopwatch
8 1 Mass balance

b. Laboratory Setup
Experiment Setup
Measurements to Find the Spring Constant and Theoretical Period
1. Measure the mass of the cart and record it in Table 3.
2. Install the end stop on the track near one end.
3. Set the cart on the track and attach a spring to one end. Attach the other end
of the spring to an the end stop (see Figure 2).
 Figure 2 Oscillations on an Incline setup

4. Incline the track by raising the end of the track where the spring attached. As
the end of the track is raised the spring will stretch. Keep the angle of
inclination of the track small enough so the spring is not stretched more than
about 50 cm. Use the pivot clamp and support stand to hold the track at this
angle. Measure this angle and record it in Table 3.
5. Let the cart hang freely and come to rest. Record the equilibrium position in
Table 3.
6. Add mass to the cart and record the new resting position. Repeat this for a
total of 5 different masses, being careful not to over-stretch the spring.

Table 3 Measurement to find theoretical period

Original Position (without added mass) = 74,5 cm
Mass of cart = 252,5 gr
Angle of Incline = 12,07o
Added mass Position Force
50 gr 72,9 cm 0,102 N
100 gr 70,9 cm 0,204 N
150 gr 69 cm 0,307 N
200 gr 67,3 cm 0,409 N
250 gr 65,5 cm 0,512 N

Measuring the Experimental Period

7. Remove all of the added mass from the cart.
8. Displace the cart from equilibrium a specific distance and let it go. Time 3
oscillations and record the time in Table 4.
9. Repeat this measurement at least 5 times, using the same initial
displacement.
10. Change the angle of the incline and repeat steps 8 and 9. Follow steps 8 and
9 for a total of three different angles.

Table 4 Experimental period

Time for 3 Oscillations
Angle Average Period
1 2 3 4 5
12,07o 2,69 s 2,78 s 2,41 s 2,56 s 2,56 s 2,6 s 0,867 s
14,75o 3,22 s 3,22 s 3,59 s 3,09 s 3,22 s 3,268 s 1,089 s
17,46o 3,79 s 4,09 s 3,38 s 3,47 s 3,78 s 3,702 s 1,234 s

d. Analysis
Spring Constant and Theoretical Period
 1. Using the data in Table 3, calculate the force caused by the mass of the cart:
F=mg sinθ , where θ is the angle of incline.
2. Plot force versus position. Draw the best-fit straight line through the data
points and determine the slope of the line. The slope is equal to the effective
spring constant,k.
k= 13,248
3. Using the mass of the cart and the spring constant, calculate the period using
the theoretical formula.
T= 0,866 s

Experimental Period
4. Using the data in Table 4, calculate the average time for 3 oscillations.
5. Calculate the period by dividing these average values by 3 and record the
periods in Table 4.
6. Does the period vary as the angle is changed? Yes, the period increases as
the angle increases
7. How do the experimental values compare with the theoretical values? It is
pretty much the same, with only 0,001 seconds of difference.
8. Does the equilibrium position change as the angle is changed? Yes, because
the force applied to the springs are also changed.
9. What would be the period if the angle was 90°? The period would increase.

Springs in Series and Parallel

a. Equipment
No Quantity Name
1 1 Track with Feet and End Stops
2 1 PAScar
3 1 Pivot clamp
4 1 Base and support rod
5 2 Harmonic Springs
6 1 Stopwatch
7 1 Mass balance

b. Laboratory Setup
Experiment Setup
Measuring the Spring Constant of a Single Spring
1. Measure the mass of the cart. Record this value at the top of Table 5.
2. Install the end stop on the track near one end.
3. Set the cart on the track and attach a spring to one end. Attach the other end of the
spring to the end stop (see Figure 3).
 Figure 3 Single Spring
4. Incline the track by raising the end where the spring is attached. As the end of the
track is raised the spring will stretch. Incline the track by raising the end of the
track where the spring attached. As the end of the track is raised the spring will
stretch. Keep the angle of inclination of the track small enough so the spring is not
stretched more than about 50 cm. Use the pivot clamp and support stand to hold the
track at this angle.
5. Displace the cart from equilibrium and let it go. Time 2 oscillations and record the
time in Table 5. Repeat this measurement at least 5 times, using the same initial
displacement. Angle : 12,07o

Table 5 Experimental Period

Time for 2 Oscillations Averag
Springs Period
1 2 3 4 5 e
Single 1,56 s 1,75 s 1,75 s 1,56 s 1,56 s 1,636 s 0,818 s
Series 2,50 s 2,46 s 2,40 s 2,50 s 2,37 s 2,446 s 1,223 s
Parallel 1,09 s 1,22 s 1,19 s 1,25 s 1,06 s 1,162 s 0,581 s
Opposite Ends 1,59 s 1,47 s 1,69 s 1,56 s 1,53 s 1,568 s 0,784 s

Measuring the Effective Spring Constant of Spring Combinations

6. Add a second spring in series as shown in Figure 3 and repeat step 5.
7. Put the two springs in parallel as shown in Figure 4 and repeat step 5.
8. Arrange the springs as shown in Figure 5 and repeat step 5.

Figure 3 Springs in series

 Figure.4 Springs in parallel

Figure 5 Springs in opposite ends

e. Analysis
Springs in series and parallel
1. Using the data in Table 5, calculate the average time for 2 oscillations.
2. Calculate the period by dividing these times by 2 and record the periods in
Table 5.
3. Using the periods and the mass of the cart, calculate the effective spring
constants
4. For which type of combination (series of parallel) is the effective spring
constant equal to 2k? Parallel
5. For which type of combination (series of parallel) is the effective spring
constant equal to k/2? Series
6. Is the arrangement with springs at opposite ends a series or parallel
combination? Parallel

Launch Speed
a. Equipment
No Quantity Name
1 1 Track with Feet and End Stops
2 1 PAScar
3 1 Pivot clamp
4 1 Cart Masses
5 1 Mass set
 b. Laboratory Setup
Experiment Setup
Launch Speed
1. Install the feet on the track and level it.
2. Install and end stop at each end of the track.
3. Push the plunger of the cart into the first, second, or third position. Place the
cart on the track with the plunger against one end stop. Tap the trigger
button to launch the cart.
4. Varying Spring Compression: Repeat step 3 three times. Perform the first
trial with the spring plunger cocked to the first possible position (the least
compression) and then do two more trials increasing the force applied to the
cart by increasing the compression of the spring plunger.
5. Varying Mass: For these trials, always cock the spring plunger to the
maximum. Observe the relative accelerations of the cart alone and with 250
g and 500g of added mass.
More springs compressed = more speed
More mass = less speed

f. Analysis
Launch speed
1. When does the spring apply force to the cart? When is the net force on the
cart (ignoring friction) zero? When the cart moves, and the spring holds the
cart back. The net force is zero when the cart is stopped.
2. Does the final speed of the cart increase or decrease with increasing initial
spring compression? It increases as the result of added acceleration.
3. Does the final speed of the cart increase or decrease with increasing cart
mass? It decreases.

REFERENSES
[1] PASCO Scientific. [Online]. Instruction Manual and Experiment Guide for the PASCO
scientific model ME-6955 : https://www.pasco.com/prodCompare/pascar-dynamics-
systems/index.cfm December 07,2015 [March 21, 2015]
IV. APPENDICES 
In Conclusion, we can use springs constant in series and parallel by measuring the period
of oscillation and mass of a cart attached to the spring to create oscillation.
2
4π m
k=
Formula: T 2 . We can say that we experimented, and the result is similar to the theory.
And there could be human error that cause the result is not accurate.
The higher the spring constant = the stiffer the spring. To do that, we can methodize the
springs parallelly. On the other side, the lower the spring constant = the flexible the spring,
we can methodize the spring serially.
We compress the springs more to gain faster the launch speed when it launching the cart.