Lab B1_ Simple Harmonic Motion.docx - Lab Course...

Lab Course 103A -Section 006 Physics Laboratory Report
Lab number and Title:
Lab B1: Simple Harmonic Motion
Name:
Nicholas Ramirez
Group members:
Carlos Skerrett,
Gerome Garses,
Shail Sheth,
Conor Mccan,
Erin Heidleberger
Experiment Date : 3-3-
17
Instructor’s name:
Sizhan Liu
1. OBJECTIVES
The objective of this lab was to determine the spring constant, k, by
stretching the spring and applying Hooke’s Law. We also needed to verify the
period of vibration of a body on a single spring independent of the
amplitude. With measuring the period, T, of a pendulum length, L. Can be
given by equation: T = √(mk) and T = 2√(Lg).
2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
When a body of mass m, is suspended on a coil spring with constant k, and if the spring is
stretched or compressed from its equilibrium position through a displacement d, the spring exerts
on the body a force that is proportional to the displacement and given by Hooke’s law:
1. F = -ks
F is the restoring force. The negative sign indicates the force direction is opposite to the direction
of the displacement. If the spring is hung vertically, when the body is stationary, according to
Newton’s First Law:
2. F = mg
Combined:

3: mg = ks
We will determine the constant, k. When the body is stationary, we call the position of the system
the equilibrium position of the system. If the body mass m, is now displaced from the
equilibrium position of the system a distance x, there will be a net force acting on the body.