phys_lab_B1 - Lab B1 Simple Harmonic Motion Lab Course and...

Lab B1: Simple Harmonic Motion
Lab Course and Section: PHYS 111A-008
Lab Partners: Christopher Boyle, Hardik Patel, Peshwa Shukla, Calvin Yang
Date: 05/02/13
Instructor: Siliang Wu
-Objective:
1. To determine the spring constant k by stretching the spring and applying Hooke’s Law;
2. To verify that the period of vibration of a body on a spring is independent of the amplitude, and is
given by:
1.
3. To measure the period T of a simple pendulum as a function of the length L of the pendulum, and
to verify that it is given by
(2)
-Introduction and Background
I. Spring
When a body of mass m is suspended on a coil spring with spring constant k , and if the spring is stretched
or compressed from its equilibrium position through a displacement s , the spring exerts on the body a
force that is proportional to the displacement and given by Hooke’s law (when within elastic limit):

.