AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)
FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 2
Section: , Group:
LAB REPORT ON
To determine the spring constant and effective mass of a given
spiral spring.
Supervised By
Submitted By:
Date of Submission:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPICS: Page no.
I. Title Page 1
II. Table of Content 2
1. Theory 3-4
2. Apparatus 4
3. Procedure 5
4. Experimental Data 6
5. Analysis and Calculation 6-8
6. Result 8
7. Discussion 9
8. References 9
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 9
1. Theory
If there is a restoring force F that is opposing and exactly proportional to the distance x that
the body is pushed from its equilibrium position, the motion of a body that oscillates back
and forth is characterized as simple harmonic motion. Hooke's law, which describes this
elastic behavior connection, is known as
F = -kx …………………… (eq. 1)
Here proportionality constant is ‘k’. The negative sign indicates that the force is conducted in
the opposite direction as the displacement, always toward equilibrium. The spring's
elongation, x – x0, is determined by the spring constant, k, and the weight of a mass, mg, that
hangs on the spring in a system like the one illustrated in figure 1. When a system of forces is
in equilibrium, the sum of downward forces is equal to and opposite the sum of upward
forces or,
mg = k(x – x0) ….........…(eq. 2)
Whenever a mass m is exposed to a restorative force and oscillates, the time for a whole
oscillation is denoted as time T and is determined by that period as,
𝑒
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ …………………… (eq. 3)
𝑘
where me is the system's equivalent mass, i.e., the sum of the mass, m, that hangs from the
spring and the equivalent mass of the spring me-spring,
me =m + me-spring ………………. (eq. 4)
However, because the entire spring does not vibrate with the same amplitude as the load, it is
acceptable to infer that the effective load (m) equals the mass hanging from the spring's end
plus a portion of the spring's mass. Based on comparable tests, a third of the spring's mass is
a fair estimate of the spring's effective load. Equation 4 is substituted for equation 3 and both
sides of the equation are squared, yielding:
𝑇=4 𝜋 2
𝑘 (𝑚 + 𝑚𝑒−𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔)= 4𝜋𝑘2 𝑚 + 4𝜋𝑘2 𝑚𝑒−𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 ……… (eq. 5)
where m is the hanging mass and me-spring is the effective mass of the spring. If we assume that
the effective spring mass is the same for all loads, then a graph of period squared (T²) vs
2𝑚𝑒−𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 3 of 9
4π²m 4π hanging mass (m) is a straight
line, where is the slope(x) and is the
𝑘 𝑘 intercept(y) as comparison to
straight line equation y=mx+c.
2. Apparatus
a. A spiral spring,
b. Convenient masses with hanging arrangement,
c. A framework of heavy metal rods,
d. Clamp or a hook,
e. A weighing balance,
f. A stop watch and
g. Scale
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 4 of 9
3. Procedure
a) The spring is clamped at one end of the working table or it is suspended by a
hook attached to a rigid framework of heavy metal rods.
b) The length of the spring L is measured with a meter scale and the extension of
the spring is calculated using another scale placed behind the spring.
c) Suitable weight is added to the free end of the spring so that it extends to
position O.
d) The load is pulled from position O to a moderately low position B and then it
was let go. A simple harmonic motion is executed by the spring about the
position O and then the time for 50 vibrations is measured using a stop clock.
Then the vibrations are counted. The period T is calculated in sec per
vibrations.
e) Operation III and IV is repeated for at least 5 sets of loads.
f) A graph of added loads against the extensions of the spring is drawn. A line of
best fit is drawn through the points.
g) From the first graph the slope of the line is determined. The slope will be
(Y2Y1)/(X2-X1) gm-wt/cm and the spring constant K will be this slope
multiplied by g.
h) The mass m of the spring is measured using a balance and the effective mass
m obtained from the graph is shown as 1/3 of the mass.
i) The numbers of turns are counted from the spring. The radius of the spring is
determined. The radius of the wire of the spring is also measured using a
screw-gauge. Then with the help of equation 4, the rigidity modulus of the
material of the spring is calculated.
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 5 of 9
4. Experimental Data Table
(A) Length of the spring, L = 28.5 cm
(B) Determination of extensions and time periods:
Table: Determination of extensions and time periods
No. of Loads Extension No. of Total Period 𝐓𝟐
Obs l (cm) Time
𝐦𝟎(𝐠𝐦) Vibrations T = t/n (s) (𝐬𝟐)
n t(s)
1 150 8.5 20 13 0.65 0.4225
2 200 12 20 15 0.75 0.5625
3 250 15 20 17 0.85 0.7225
4 300 18 20 18 0.9 0.81
5 350 21.5 20 20 1 1
6 400 24.5 20 21 1.05 1.1025
5. Graph & Observation
Calculation of k, the spring constant and m the effective mass of the spring as
described in procedure.
Draw the graph as described in extensions and time periods
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 6 of 9
Graph: 1 (L vs M)
Graph: 2 (𝐓𝟐 vs M)
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 7 of 9
Calculation:
Slope = 4𝜋2
𝑘
2
4𝜋
∴ Spring Constant, 𝑘 =
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒
From L vs M graph:
Slope = 0.063714 (From Graph: 1)
∴ Spring Constant, 𝑘 = 4𝜋2
= 4×3.142 = 618.99
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 0.063714
From 𝐓𝟐 vs M graph:
y intercept = 0.015714 (From Graph: 2)
We know,
y intercept = 4𝜋𝑘2 𝑚𝑐 − 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 04.063714×3.142 = 618.99
.𝑚𝑐 − 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑘×y intercept4𝜋2= 618.994××30.14.0157142= 0.2466 gm
6. Result
Spring Constant, 𝑘 = 4𝜋2
= 618.99
𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒
Effective mass of spring, − 𝑠𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 0.2466 gm
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 8 of 9
7. Precautions & Discussions
a) The spring is to be hanged in such a way that after hanging a weight at its end,
the upper end of the hook does not come out from the spring.
b) Find the elongation of the spring for the increase of weight.
c) Care should be taken so that while hanging weight on the spring there should
not be any resistance for increase in length.
d) Elongation should be measured carefully.
8. References
(i) Practical Physics by Dr. Giasuddin Ahmed
Lab Report Department of Physics Page 9 of 9
