Semester 2 29, EAC14 Engineering Dynamics, Laboratory session

Hooke's law and Simple harmonic motion

Introduction:
Hooke`s Law states that when an elastic material, such as springs, experienced a
Iorce which cause it to extend or compress, there will be an equal and opposite
Iorce called restoring Iorce which exerts on the spring, this Iorce tries to return the
spring to its original length. This relationship can be shown by equation
F
s
-kx
where F
s
known as the restoring Iorce or spring Iorce, k known as spring constant,
x known as the displacement oI the spring Irom its original length (Walker,2007).
The negative sign in the equation means that the direction oI the restoring Iorce is
opposite to the direction oI the extension or compression at all times. When the
stretched oI spring exceed its elastic limit, the spring will not restore to its original
length.
Objective:
O To determine the spring constant k oI an individual spring by using Hooke`s
Law and the properties oI an oscillating spring-mass system.
IM:
O To measure the extension oI spring by adding static loads
O To calculate the oscillation oI spring periodically under a dynamic loading.
!!#%&$:
Three sets oI unequal stiIIness springs, Range oI slotted weights with hangers, One
meter wooden ruler, Digital stopwatch



!#OCED&#E:
(Statics) 1. k is determined Irom Hooke`s law
i. The physical system is set up with one end oI the spring is attached onto the
O-ring and the other end is attached to the hanger (as shown in the Iigure).
ii. An initial slotted-weight is located to the spring such that the coils just starts
to separate, subsequent spring extensions are measured relative to this
reIerence point.
iii. A series oI additional masses is added to the spring in the order oI equal
increments.
iv. The weight oI the masses (in Newtons) and the resultant position oI the
system (in meters) are recorded down when the system has come to a rest
aIter the mass increment is placed on the hanger.
v. iii and iv is repeated Ior Iive times to take more accurate readings.
(Dynamics) 2. Period oI oscillations is depend on mass by equation T 2a(m/k)
1/2
i. The period oI oscillation, T, is determine Irom 4 diIIerent masses which
hanging on each spring.
ii. The suitable amount oI slotted weights to start oII is decided and gradually
increases them. Prevent to start oII the oscillation with the heaviest mass.
iii. Time is recorded down aIter 10 oscillations Ior each mass.
iv. iii is repeated Ior two times to obtain average readings.








%,ble:
Static:
(i) First spring
Weight, N Displacement, m
3.940 0.008
4.905 0.012
5.886 0.016
6.867 0.020
7.848 0.025

(ii) Second spring
Weight, N Displacement, m
0.000 0.000
2.940 0.085
3.920 0.093
4.910 0.100
5.890 0.109

(iii) Third spring
Weight, N Displacement, m
2.940 0.093
3.920 0.099
4.910 0.104
5.890 0.110
6.870 0.116





Dynamic:
(i) First spring
Time period, T/s Mass, m/kg m`(-2)
0.000 0.000 0.000
0.251 0.300 0.548
0.306 0.400 0.632
0.333 0.500 0.707
0.369 0.600 0.775

(ii) Second spring
Time period, T/s Mass, m/kg m`(-2)
0.000 0.000 0.000
0.337 0.300 0.548
0.362 0.400 0.632
0.394 0.500 0.707
0.419 0.600 0.775

(iii) Third spring
Time period, T/s Mass, m/kg m`(-2)
0.000 0.000 0.000
0.275 0.300 0.548
0.324 0.400 0.632
0.362 0.500 0.707
0.375 0.600 0.775






r,5:
Static:
(i) First spring

(ii) Second spring




0
1
2
3
4
3
6
7
8
9
0 001 002 003
W
e
|
g
h
t

]

N
D|sp|acement ] m
WelghL/ n
ulsplacemenL / m
Llnear (WelghL/ n
ulsplacemenL / m)
1
0
1
2
3
4
3
6
7
0 003 01 013
W
e
|
g
h
t

]

N
D|sp|acement ] m
Second Sprlng (SLaLlc)
Llnear (Second Sprlng
(SLaLlc))
(iii) Third spring

Dynamic:
(i) First spring




0
1
2
3
4
3
6
7
8
0 003 01 013
W
e
|
g
h
t

]

N
D|sp|acement ] m
1hlrd Sprlng (SLaLlc)
ulsplacemenL / m
Llnear (1hlrd Sprlng
(SLaLlc) ulsplacemenL /
m)
003
0
003
01
013
02
023
03
033
04
0 02 04 06 08 1
1
|
m
e

e
r
|
o
d

1

]

s
D|sp|acement ] m
llrsL SLrlng (uymanlcs)
Llnear (llrsL SLrlng
(uymanlcs))
(ii) Second spring

(iii) Third spring






0
003
01
013
02
023
03
033
04
043
03
0 02 04 06 08 1
1
|
m
e

e
r
|
o
d

1

]

s
D|sp|acement ] m
Second Sprlng
(uynamlc)
Llnear (Second Sprlng
(uynamlc))
0
003
01
013
02
023
03
033
04
043
0 023 03 073 1
1
|
m
e

e
r
|
o
d

1

]

s
D|sp|acement ] m
1hlrd Sprlng (uynamlc)
Llnear (1hlrd Sprlng
(uynamlc))
Discussion:
omparing both the experiment, the value oI the spring constant, k is not the same
Ior the three diIIerent lengths oI springs used. This is due to several errors that
occur which causes the value oI k to be diIIerent.
One oI the common errors that happen during the experiment is the random error.
For instance, the position oI the ruler was not placed parallel to the position oI the
spring which caused the reading to be lack oI precision. The solution to this
problem is by using a clamp to hold the ruler beside the spring to ensure that the
position oI the ruler is parallel to the spring. Besides that, variation in the eye
position when taking the reading will cause the precision oI the reading to
decreases. This event normally happens when the observer`s eyes are not
perpendicular to the reading oI the ruler. In order to solve the problem, the
observer has to repeat the experiment a Iew times to get the average reading to
increase the precision oI the result.
Systematic error is another common error occurs during the experiment. This oIten
happen when the spring loss its elasticity due to the long usage by a lot oI people
which caused the reading to be lack oI accuracy. With this, the experimenters have
to observe the spring beIore using it and should get a new spring Irom the tutor to
ensure a more accurate reading. The scale oI the ruler is another systematic error
that occurs while doing the experiment due to the scale used is too small that will
reduce the accuracy oI the result. ThereIore, the ruler should replace by other more
scale apparatus like the electronic apparatus to get a more accurate reading.
Beside the error Iorming, there are also some diIIiculties that make the reading to
be inaccurate and imprecise. Some oI these diIIiculties can lead to the Iormation oI
these errors. One oI the diIIiculties is the catching the exact timing Ior the 10
oscillation oI the spring in the dynamic experiment. This is due to observer who
are unable to react Iast when the taking the time taken Ior the oscillation oI the
spring. With this, the experiment has to be repeated a Iew times to get the average
reading to ensure correct reading obtain. The inconsistent oI the vibration oI the
spring in the dynamic experiment is another diIIiculties that will Iaced by the
experimenter. This is due to the Iorce applied on the spring is not consistent which
made the spring to move in all direction. The way to solve this problem is by the
attach a string to the spring to make vibration vertical because the Iorce is Iocus at
the centre oI the spring which will reduce the spring Irom moving in all direction.
There are diIIiculties Iaced when measuring the extension oI the spring by using a
ruler because extension oI the spring is too small which cause the reading to be
inaccurate. The solution to this problem is by measuring the length oI the spring
using a string so that the string can attach to the spring to ensure that the small
change in the length oI the spring can be observed.
As comparing both the experiment, the graph Ior the Iirst spring used in the
dynamic is more accurate and precise as compare to the static. For the reading oI
the second spring used in the dynamic is more consistent but lack oI accuracy.
Whereas Ior the spring used in the static graph show that the readings are not
accurate and precise. For the graph oI the third spring used in static and dynamic
show the reading are all precise but not accurate.
Conclusion:
Spring constant is the same Ior both the static and dynamic experiment. Even
though there are a Iew changes in the experiment, but it would not change the
value Ior the spring constant, k provided the same type oI the springs is used in the
experiment.
#eference:
Walker, J. & Halliday & Resnick (2007), ' Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem,
Fundamentals oI Physics, 8
th
edn, John Wiley & Sons.