SPH4U Learning Activity 2.

2
Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

2.2 Exploring elastic potential energy

Purpose: To determine the factors which affect the period of oscillation.

Instructions:

a. Go to the “Masses and Springs Interactive Learning Tool” in the course content.
b. Press the “Lab” icon to start the simulation.

Investigation Set-Up:

1. Press the top two (2) buttons on the right hand menu.

2. Gently hang a 100 g mass onto the spring. Do so by dragging the 100 g mass to the
spring. Ease the mass downward until it reaches a stretch equilibrium. If it is oscillating,
you can press the stop button (“stop sign”) at the top of the screen.

3. Press and drag the ruler on the left-hand side such that the zero mark of the ruler is
aligned with the dotted horizontal line at the stretch equilibrium.

4. In the menu bar, move the slider so that the Damping is set to “none”.

5. You are now ready to start. Compare your screen set up to the image below. If it’s a
match, you’re ready to start. If it’s not a match, make the necessary adjustments.

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Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

Note: For this simulation, it is much easier to take measurements that are not “real time”.

6. In the bottom right hand corner, press the “Slow” option button.
7. Drag the “Stopwatch” tool towards the middle of the screen but not blocking your view
of the mass or spring.
8. Carefully stretch the hanging 100 g (0.100 kg) mass by pressing and dragging the
mass. Stretch the mass 10 cm. Release the mass so it begins to oscillate up and down,
allowing the system to continue oscillating.

Data Collection:

Part A - Mass and Period Relationship:

9. Once you are comfortable with the motion of the hanging mass, start the timer when
mass reaches its maximum extension. Time the motion for 10 complete, oscillations
and record the time in the data table below.
10. Do calculations to complete the row in your data table.

11. Stop the harmonic motion by pressing the stop bottom (“stop sign”). When the motion
stops, change the mass by moving the Mass slider to 150 g (or 0.150 kg). Repeat
steps 9 and 10 and reset the timer.
12. Repeat steps 9 to 11 for the 0.200 kg mass.

13. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the 250 g.

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Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

Note: at any time. the “Normal” time option may be selected if you are comfortable with
measuring the 10 cycles in real-time.

Mass (kg) Displacement (m) Time (s) Period (s)

for 10 cycles (𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 / # 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠)

0.100 0.100 m 8.10s 0.81s

0.150 0.100 m 9.92s 0.99s

0.200 0.100 m 11.37s 1.13s

0.250 0.100 m 12.90s 1.30s

Part B - Spring Constant and Period Relationship:

1. Gently hang the 100g mass onto the spring and set up the apparatus as before with the
dotted reference line and ruler.
2. Drag the slider for the spring constant. Carefully stretch the hanging 100 g mass by
pressing and dragging the mass. Stretch the mass 10 cm. Release the mass so it
begins to oscillate up and down. As you did in the previous section, determine the
period of motion for the various springs.

Note: there is no value for the spring constant. Pick qualitative values (e.g. small, medium and
large spring constants).

Spring Constant Displacement (m) Time (s) Period (s)

for 10 cycles (𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 / # 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠)

Small 0.100 m 11.50s 1.15s

Medium 0.100 m 7.55s 0.75s

Large 0.100 m 5.75s 0.58s

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Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

Part C - Displacement (Amplitude) and Period Relationship:

1. Gently hang the 100 g mass onto the spring and set up the apparatus as before with
the dotted reference line and ruler.
2. Carefully stretch the hanging 100 g mass by pressing and dragging the mass. Stretch
the mass 10 cm. Release the mass so it begins to oscillate up and down. As you did in
the previous section, determine the time for 10 cycles and the period.
3. Stretch the mass to 20 cm and release. Determine the time for 10 cycles and then the
period.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for a displacement (amplitude) of 30 cm.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for a displacement (amplitude) of 40 cm.

Mass (kg) Displacement (m) Time (s) Period (s)

for 10 cycles (𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 / # 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠)

0.0100 kg 0.10 11.41 1.141

0.0100 kg 0.20 8.0 0.790

0.0100 kg 0.30 8.10 0.810

0.0100 kg 0.40 8.0 0.790

Part D - Energy Analysis:

1. Reset the apparatus by pressing the “Reset” button in the bottom right hand corner.
2. Set the time to “Slow”.
3. Set Damping to “None”
4. Carefully stretch the hanging 100 g mass by pressing and dragging the mass. Stretch
the mass 20 cm. Release the mass so it begins to oscillate up and down.
5. Observe the energy transfer that takes place as the spring oscillates.

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Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

Discussion Question for Part A:

How do the changes to the mass on the spring affect the period of the mass?
The mass of an object influences the system's inertia, which is its resistance to
changes in motion. A greater mass results in more inertia, leading to a longer period
of movement. The spring constant determines the strength of the restoring force of
the spring.

Discussion Question for Part B:

How does the spring constant affect the period of the mass on a spring?
Springs with a higher spring constant, also known as stiffer springs, produce a
shorter period, meaning the mass completes its cycle more quickly. This is because
stiffer springs exert a stronger restoring force, causing the mass to move faster. In
contrast, springs with a lower spring constant result in a longer period and slower
movement.

Discussion Question for Part C:

How does the amplitude affect the period of a mass on a spring?

Amplitude does not affect the period of a mass on a spring. The period is only
determined by the mass and the spring constant. While a larger amplitude causes
the mass to travel a greater distance, it also moves faster, so the time to complete a
cycle remains unchanged.

Discussion Questions for Part D:

1. At what point does the level of kinetic energy reach its maximum?
Kinetic energy is at its maximum at the lowest point of the mass’s movement,
where it is moving the fastest. At this point, all the energy from the spring is
converted into motion, giving the mass its highest speed and kinetic energy.

2. At what point does the level of kinetic energy reach its minimum?
Kinetic energy reaches its minimum at the highest points of the movement,
where the mass briefly stops before reversing direction. At these points, the
speed is zero, so kinetic energy is at its lowest.

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Lab investigation: Exploring simple harmonic motion

3. At what point does the level of potential energy reach its maximum?
Potential energy in a spring-mass system is at its maximum when the
displacement of the mass from its equilibrium position is greatest, at the
turning points of the movement. This occurs because the spring is either fully
compressed or fully stretched, storing the highest amount of potential energy
4. At what point does the level of potential energy reach its minimum?
The potential energy in a spring-mass system is at its minimum when the
system is in equilibrium, meaning the mass is at rest and the spring is neither
compressed nor stretched.

Limitations of the Simulation:

What are the benefits or advantages of using this simulation over using a real mass and
spring?

What are the limitations or disadvantages of using this simulation over using a real mass and
spring?
Simulations may not accurately reflect real-world conditions and may lack the
hands-on skills that physical experiments develop. Ex: spring stiffness may change
under different condition. It may not fully replicate the subtle effects of damping or
other environmental influences.

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