Lab 2:

Oscillations
Performed: 5/20/2021
Due: 5/25/2021 before 1:00 pm
 
Oscillations intro Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
1. Obeys Hooke’s Law – elastic force is proportional to displacement:
(eq 2.1)

2. Position of the mass is sinusoidal (x vs. t can be modeled by a sin wave):

(eq 2.2)
A = amplitude; =angular frequency in rad/s; Φ= initial phase constant

3. Energy is conserved.
energy lost due to air resistance approximated as negligible if taken over short period (mass on a
spring within our lab)
Oscillations Lab  

Period
The amount of time it takes one complete “oscillation to occur”
One 2 rotation of the sin curve of x(t)
The time the object takes to return to its “original” spot
 
 
Springs Pendulum

I’m going to show you both Simulations. You must collect all of the Mass/Spring Data now
Pendulum https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/pendulum-lab
/latest/pendulum-lab_en.
•  Length=1 m, friction= level 3, add stopwatch
html
• Find period by dividing by # of oscillations from time for at least 10
periods of motion
• Set to -30 degrees before release, 5 trials, average together, find standard
deviation using function in excel (=stdev( ))
Period (total time/# of full
- Will be the
Length (m)time uncertainty for all measurements
Trial in lab *at least 10 oscillations
oscillations)
1.00 1
2
3
4
5
Average: Standard deviation:
Pendulum
Length (m) Trial Period (total Length (m) Trial Period
time/# of full (total time/#
oscillations) of full
*at least 10 oscillations)
• Repeat length 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2 0.8 1 0.6 1
• Don’t change gravity or friction 2 2
• Initial angle -30 degrees 3 3
• Length (m) vs. Period (s) 4 4
5 5
Average Standard Average Standard
deviation: deviation:
Length (m) Trial Period Length (m) Trial Period
(total time/# (total time/#
of full of full
oscillations) oscillations)
0.4 1 0.2 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Average Standard Average Standard
deviation: deviation:
 Pendulum
Period Period
Initial Initial
(total time/# (total time/#
Displaceme Trial Displaceme Trial
of full of full
nt (degrees) nt (degrees)
oscillations) oscillations)
• Don’t change friction or gravity -45 1 -40 1
2 2
• Set to 1.0 m length
3 3
• initial displacement (degrees)
4 4
vs. period (s)
5 5
• Repeat -45, -40, -35, -25
Average Standard Average Standard
degrees
deviation: deviation:
Period Period
Initial Initial
(total time/# (total time/#
Displaceme Trial Displaceme Trial
of full of full
nt (degrees) nt (degrees)
oscillations) oscillations)
-35 1 -25 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Average Standard Average Standard
 Pendulum
Period Period
(total time/# (total time/#
Mass (kg) Trial Mass (kg) Trial
of full of full
oscillations) oscillations)
• Don’t change friction or 0.25 1 0.5 1
gravity 2 2
3 3
• Set to 1.0 m length, initial
displacement= -30 degrees 4 4
5 5
• mass(kg) vs. period (s)
Average Standard Average Standard
• Repeat 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 kg deviation: deviation:
Period Period
(total time/# (total time/#
Mass (kg) Trial Mass (kg) Trial
of full of full
oscillations) oscillations)
0.75 1 1.0 1
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
Average Standard Average Standard
Pendulum
- Data analysis:
All questions, *Hint: use equation 2.9 for #7
- Plot graphs in Excel or Google Sheets, include all within report with titles and respective tables
- Include titles for tables too
- For the report, only the average value is necessary for data tables and graphs, ex:
Length vs. period
Length of the string (m) Average period (s)
0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8
Masses and springs https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/masses-and-springs/l
atest/masses-and-springs_en.html
• Mass=100 g, Spring constant= level 3, dampening= level 1, gravity=9.81 m/s (*gravity will never be changed)
• Minimize energy graph, select Displacement and Natural Length indicators
• *Make sure simulation is stopped in between readings

1 Finding spring constant

Displacement (cm) (use ruler Weight (N) =m*g (convert mass to

Mass (g)
to measure) kg)
100
150
175
200
225
250

Graph weight vs. displacement-> slope +

Masses and springs
• Spring constant= level 3, dampening= level 1, gravity=9.81 m/s
(*gravity will never be changed)
• Hang unlabeled blue mass and measure displacement
• Knowing slope= k, solve for mass of blue weight (convert cm to m, mass
will be in kg)
Force
• Repeat process
Weight with Displacement
red weight(cm) (N)=m*g=k*x
Mass (kg)=F/g

Blue

Red
Masses and springs
• Reset Mass=100 g, damping=0
• Add stopwatch and moveable line
• Measure period by dividing total time for at least 10 periods by # of oscillations
• Pull down moveable length to some point as marker of complete periods
easuring the period
Period (time for 1 full oscillation)
Mass (g) Total time for 10 periods (s)
(s)
100
150
175
200
225
250
Masses and springs
1. Reset Mass=100 g, damping=0
*acceleration=0 when
yellow line disappears
Velocity=0 when green line
disappears
2. Remove stopwatch and moveable line 1. Use advance button until acceleration =0,
3. Add velocity and acceleration indicators measure displacement (x) and height of
too mass (h)
4. Set viewer to slow mode 2. Repeat for another point of zero
acceleration
5. Pull down mass, start simulation and stop
afterthe
a few oscillations 3. Repeat process for 2 points where velocity
easuring energy
is zero
Displacement Height of mass Displacement Height of mass
Acceleration=0 Velocity=0
(x) (cm) (h) (cm) 4. Pick spot (x) displacement
where (cm) (h)and
(cm)height
do
Point 1 Pointequal
not 1 zero, take measurements of x and
Point 2
hPoint 2

Point where displacement X= H=

and height not zero
Masses and springs
10. Remove lines and velocity and 10. Set damping to zero, pull mass
acceleration indicators down- What does the graph show
11. Add energy graph and pull mass is happening?
down- What does the graph show
is happening?
Masses and springs
Data analysis:
All questions
For #4, KE=(1/2)mv^2; PE=mgh
Reminders:
• If you leave lab before I check your data, you get a zero. No exceptions
• Use the rubric attached the syllabus when writing report and email me
with questions
• Type out data tables and any calculations or necessary graphs as a part
of your data in report