Lab 01 – Simple Harmonic Motion

Introduction
Welcome to your second semester of physics. This lab will warm you up to the concepts in this
course and familiarize you with the format of labs in an online course. The majority of
experiments done in this semester of physics are likely too expensive to do even in a university
lab, so we will make heavy use of simulations. There will be a few times you can experiment
with items from home, but then you will need to supplement your learning with an online
simulator.

The first lab will review periodic motion, the first topic in the course. This type of motion may
seem a little “redundant”, but it is a very common phenomenon in all sciences: biology,
chemistry, physics, and astronomy. As such, it is worth becoming familiar with the foundations
of periodic motion.

Materials/Supplies
 Materials needed: Computer

Time Spent
 Time spent on lab: 2 hours

Learning Objectives
 Define periodic motion and how the kinematic equations apply to the periodic motion of
point masses
Activity #1
To begin this week’s lab, please proceed to:
 PHET Interactive Simulations Web Page

This webpage has an introductory page, and once you click on “Intro” you should see something
like this:

Here we see some hanging masses on the bottom left. Some of the masses are labeled. You
can click and drag weight of known mass and place it on the spring on the left. Take a different
mass and place it on the spring on the right.
1. Using the timer on the upper right, record the time for each mass to complete 10 cycles
of motion. If you have forgotten the meaning of periodic properties, you can refer to the
text or to The Physics Classroom webpage. Record your answers in the space below.
Then calculate the time for one period of each mass. Finally calculate the frequency of
each mass. Make sure to clearly label your values.
Answer:

TIME FOR 10 CYCLES (sec):

You may have noticed that there is a connection between the mass hanging on the spring and
the time it takes to go through one cycle of motion. Refer to your textbook for the equation that
would enable you to calculate the spring constant.

2. Using the proper equation, calculate the spring constant from each of the springs. Then
calculate your equivalent spring constant between the two springs if they were in
parallel. Write out all steps and the final answers below.
Answer:

Force=spring constant/distance of extension (F=kx)

3. You should have used two different masses in steps 1 and 2. Now estimate the period of
one bounce from the third mass, using the spring constant and equation in #2. Write out
your work and the final answer below.
Answer:

Period = time/No. of cycles = wavelength/ velocity

= 2pi[(mass/spring constant)^(½)]T

= 2pi[(50g/k)^(½)]

= 2pi[{0.05kg/(11/36kg/m)}^(½)]

= 2.54 sec
Now switch to the vector mode of the simulation, like in the picture below:

4. Drag a mass to the spring on the left, and click the acceleration and force vectors to be
visible. Summarize the appearance of the two vectors below.
Answer:

As the speed vector gets bigger, the speed increase vector gets more modest as well as the
other way around. At the point when one of the vectors is at its pinnacle biggest the other
vector is 0. As one of the vectors is developing to its pinnacle the other vector is in a similar
course yet contracting until it hits 0 when the principal vector hits its most extreme pinnacle.
Then as the vector at its most extreme pinnacle begins contracting while at the same time
keeping up with a similar heading, the vector that was at zero beginnings developing bigger
the other way until it tops maximally in this other bearing so, all in all the principal vector is
currently at nothing. The principal vector that is presently at zero changes headings to begin
filling in a similar course as second vector who was recently crested toward this path
(however inverse of past bearing of the vector)and the second "crested" vector begins to
recoil while keeping up with a similar heading. At the point when a vector fills in the positive
heading (becoming morepositive) the other vector contracts in the positive direction(becoming
more negative) until they at the same time separately hit top positive and 0. Then, at that
point, as the crested positive vector shrivels (turning out to be more negative) the vector from
zero fills the other way (turning out to be more negative) until the primary vector hits 0 while
the subsequent vector arrives at the pinnacle negative. The primary vector then starts to
develop descending from nothing (become more negative) as the subsequent vector
contracts from top negative vertical (turning out to be more positive) until the main vector hits
top negative while the subsequent vector hits 0. Then the Main vector recoils from top
negative to 0 as the subsequent vector develops from 0 to top positive. This example
progresses forward perpetually except if followed up on by a power to do in any case with the
0 point being around mid-spring's development range, the pinnacle positive point being where
no stretch happens, and the pinnacle negative point happens where the spring is completely
extended as far asit will go in this framework. The speed increase vector is most prominent at
the two limits/closures of the spring's scope of development (not extended by any means and
completely extended), where the speed vectoris littlest. The speed vector is most prominent
around mid-spring's development range, where that speed increase vector is littlest.

5. Now refresh the simulator, drag a mass to the left spring, and click only the velocity
vector to display. Knowing the connection between velocity and kinetic energy, make a
sketch of the system below, and label where the velocity is maximum and minimum.
Also, label where you predict the kinetic energy to be maximum and minimum.
Answer:
 As the speed vector becomes away from zero in either the positive or negative headings
(turning out to be more sure or more bad) the active energy decreses. The Motor Energy
increments and as the speed vector contracts in either the positive or negative headings
(turning out to be more negative or more positive) towards the midpoint. The greatest dynamic
energy will happen in a similar definite spot as the most extreme speed, which is the focal
point of the springs development range. The base motor energy will occur at similar precise
spots as the base speeds, which is at the two limits/closures of the spring's development
range (extended to the extent that it will go and not extended by any means).

Now click on the energy tab on the bottom of the screen, like shown here:

Then set the damping to be zero, as shown here:

6. Drag a mass to the spring and let it run. Make a note of where the bar of kinetic energy
on the left is highest and lowest. Sketch the spring, showing where the kinetic energy is
highest and lowest, and then comment as to whether your predication from #5 was
correct.
Answer:

Indeed my forecasts were correct. The bar of dynamic energy was most noteworthy while the
spring was in the focal point of its scope of movement. The bar of dynamic energy was most
 reduced while the spring was at the two closures of its scope of movement, maximally
broadened/extended and not extended by any means.

Now that you have some experience in how this simulator works, it is time to let you loose! The
following set of questions will be more free form. You may need to explain how you used the
simulator to prove your answer. Keep in mind that with open ended questions, you may have
more than one way to answer the question. Part of your grade on the next few questions will
come from how succinctly and correctly you answer the questions.

7. By investigation, determine when the Elastic Potential Energy is zero. Make sure you
test your idea with several masses and vary the stiffness of the spring. Write down how
you determined the zero location(s) and explain why the position for zero makes sense.
Answer:

Since flexible potential energy is the energy put away in extended or packed versatile
materials, protests that poor person been extended or compacted have none. The versatile
potential energy is least while the spring is negligibly extended/broadened. This is the mark of
unique dislodging/harmony where the spring isn't extended or withdrawn from its
"normal"/"wanted" state. Here the spring would rather not pull back because of no powers
extending it away from impartial. The versatile potential energy can be 0 at the highest point
of scope of development on the off chance that the spring isn't in no manner packed or
broadened

8. Why did you need to use varying conditions (mass, spring, etc.) in #7?
Answer:

Versatile potential energy is corresponding to the spring consistent and the square of removal;
expanding the spring steady will build the flexible possible energy while diminishing themass
will diminish the potential energy enormously since dislodging squared is relative to versatile
likely energy.

9. Put a mass on a spring and observe the total energy graph as it oscillates. Pay attention
to details of the energy distribution. Think about why the energy is distributed differently
for several situations. For example: When is there only kinetic energy? What makes the
elastic energy increase? Test your ideas with varying conditions; write down your
observations and conclusions.
Answer:

On the off chance that the mass goes beneath the noticeable screen the potential energy is
zero, which counterbalances a portion of different energies. The program distorts this and
makes it appear as though the complete energy goes above when the mass goes off the
screen. The motor energy of the spring's weight wavers between 0 at the top and lower part of
the scope of development to its most extreme inthe center of the top and base. The
 gravitational potential energy is littlest at the base and increments to most noteworthy at the
highest point of the development range. Contrarily the versatile potential energy is most
prominent at the base contracting until its absolute bottom (possibly 0) at the highest point of
the scope of movement. The absolute energy stays steady on the grounds that the various
assortments of energy types balance each other out. As one energy brings down the others
increment as well as the other way around.

10. Suppose you have a skater going back and forth on a ramp like this. How does his
energy distribution as he rides compare and contrast to that of the mass moving on a
spring? You can run the Energy Skate Park simulation to test your ideas.

Answer:

In the event that the mass goes underneath the noticeable screen the potential energy is
zero, which counteracts a portion of different energies. The program distorts this and makes it
appear as though the absolute energy goes above when the mass goes off the screen. The
motor energy of the spring's weight sways between 0 at the top and lower part of the scope of
development to its most extreme inthe center of the top and base. The gravitational potential
energy is littlest at the base and increments to most prominent at the highest point of the
development range. Contrarily the flexible potential energy is most noteworthy at the base
contracting until its absolute bottom (possibly 0) at the highest point of the scope of
movement. The absolute energy stays consistent on the grounds that the various assortments
of energy types balance each other out. As one energy brings down the others increment as
well as the other way around.

Once you have completed all lab questions, save the file using your name. For example:
o yourname_lab1.docx

Submit to the Module 1 Lab: Simple Harmonic Motion assignment in Canvas for grading.

*Portions of this lab were taken from Trish Loeblein from PhET CU Boulder.