Determining the oscillating mass (u) of a helical spring
Students learn how to determine the oscillating mass of a helical spring.
They will also understand the relationship between mass and the period of the
mass-spring system
Instructions
- Set and record m, the mass of the mass
- Pull the mass a few millimiters below it's equilibrium position and release
it so that it oscillates in a vertical plane
- Time 10 complete oscillations twice and calculate the period (T) of the mass-spring system
- Vary the mass of the mass in steps and repeat instructions (1) to (3)
- Plot a graph of (T^2) on the y-axis against m on the x-axis and determine the slope (S)
The period of the mass-spring system is related to the load on it by the equation
T^2 = ((4 * pi^2) / K)m + (4 * pi^2 * u) / K where K is a constant. T is in
seconds and m is in kilograms
- Read the intercept (C) off the T^2 and calculate u = C/S
- What's the physical significance of u?
Press "restart". Then you can pull and release the spring by dragging on the screen