18 Simple harmonic motion

AQA Physics Stretch and challenge

Graphical skills: A children’s playground ride

simulation

Specification reference
 3.6.1.3
 MS 3.1, M3.2, M3.3, M3.4, M3.10, M3.11

Introduction
In this specification some practical skills will be examined within the written
examination. You may be given a set of raw data from which to calculate various
values which may include logs. You may then go on to plot the graph and find the
gradient and/or intercept by comparing the equation of the graph you are plotting
with y  mx  c. You may also be asked to calculate uncertainties in various
quantities and/or the final answer. Other practical skills may also be examined,
depending on the experiment.

Learning outcomes
After completing this worksheet you will be able to:
 plot a log graph using values from an unknown experiment
 find the gradient and/or intercept of the graph by comparison with
y  mx  c
 state the sources of error and whether they are random or systematic
 calculate uncertainties in a final answer when the original variables have been
multiplied/divided/raised to a power
 interpret and use logarithmic plots.

Background
A student has had an idea for a new children’s playground ride. He has decided to
test out his idea with the apparatus below which uses a variation on the standard
mass−spring system which you met when studying simple harmonic motion. The
student depresses the non-hinged end of the ruler (as the child’s parent would do
on the actual ride) so that it oscillates vertically and measures the time for 20
oscillations. He keeps the mass M constant at 0.600 kg and the length X constant at
0.900 m but alters the distance d to another 6 values and records the time for 20
oscillations each time. See Table 1 below for his results. He is hoping his results will
help him decide the best position for the child’s seat.

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 18 Simple harmonic motion
AQA Physics Stretch and challenge

Figure 1

Time for 20 oscillations

d/m tmean/s Period T/s log10 (T/s) log10 (d/m)
t1/s t2/s t3/s
0.300 9.78 9.93 9.99
0.400 11.19 11.07 11.22
0.500 12.82 12.70 12.52
0.600 13.53 13.68 13.71
0.700 14.87 14.74 14.55
0.800 15.78 15.72 15.60
0.900 16.50 16.68 16.62
Table 1

Questions
1 Why has the student decided:
a to time 20 oscillations rather than just one
b to repeat the experiment three times for each mass position?

(2 marks)

2 Plot a fiducial mark on Figure 1 to show the best position to help him time the
oscillations accurately. (1 mark)

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 18 Simple harmonic motion
AQA Physics Stretch and challenge

3 Complete Table 1 by calculating a mean value for t, the period T, and finally
log10 T and log10 d. (4 marks)

4 Plot a graph of log10 (T/s) on the y-axis against log10 (d/m) on the x-axis, choosing
suitable scales and labelling the axes correctly. (4 marks)

5 Calculate the gradient of the graph by drawing a suitable triangle on the graph.
(Show your working).

(4 marks)

6 The relationship between T and d may be shown by the equation:

42 Md
T 2

kX
where k is the spring constant, X is the distance from the hinge to the spring,
and M is the mass (as shown in Figure 1).
Relate this equation to the graph you have drawn and comment as to whether
you agree that this relationship could be correct by comparing the gradient you
obtained with the relationship this equation would predict.

(3 marks)

7 Calculate the % uncertainty in T when d  0.700 m.

(3 marks)

8 State the most likely cause of this uncertainty and name the type of error.

(1 mark)

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 18 Simple harmonic motion
AQA Physics Stretch and challenge

9 Using the equation in Question 6, calculate a value of the spring constant when
d  0.300 m.

(2 marks)

10 Calculate the uncertainty in the spring constant k using the value you calculated
for the % uncertainty of T in Question 7, if the uncertainty in X and d  ±2 mm
and the % uncertainty in the mass  2%.

(4 marks)

11 For safety reasons the oscillations of a child on the playground ride should take
at least 1 second.
Use your results to suggest a minimum distance that a child should be seated
from the hinge using this model playground ride.

(2 marks)

© Oxford University Press 2016 http://www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

This resource sheet may have been changed from the original 4