Oscillations

PHYS 2125-602

Oscillation Lab
ABSTRACT:
With the use of simple pendulums, physical pendulums, and standing waves we successfully experiment and were able to
study and understand the motion of oscillation; by means of these three oscillations we were able to get a clear
understanding of the following properties in a rotational system including angular acceleration, rotational kinetic energy,
and mechanical energy. With the use of the rotational apparatus, mass hanger, and the Logger Pro program we were
capable of determining the acceleration, velocity, and the angular acceleration. From my observations I came up with the
following theories, at all of the oscillations that we experimented there is a force that pushes the object back into an
equilibrium position and also I theorized that both kinetic and potential energy was being conserved.
THEORY:
THE SIMPLE HARMONIC OSCILLATOR
With the following material ring stand, clamp, spring, mass hanger, masses motion detector, ruler, wire
basket, and computer; we conducted the simple harmonic test. A mass was suspended from a spring and
the motion detector that was placed directly below the mass (along with a wire basket to protect the
motion detector), where it conveniently recorded the data when the mass was bouncing on the spring
freely. And we made our weight the independent variable and changed it (increased it each time with a
steady 50 grams) and recorded the calculated and measured angular velocities, amplitudes, and
maximum velocity each time. The main equation that we used was force=mass(acceleration)=-k(distance).
Acceleration is calculated with the equation a=((-k)/m)(distance) or the equation position(t)=Acos(wt)to calculate w.
Amplitude (A) maximum displacement from the center; maximum velocity is when the position is at 0, it can be calculated
with the equation w(amplitude)sin(w*time at 0). With this it is apparent that there is a positive relationship between
amplitude and velocity. To calculate the spring constant total mass and the angular velocity (omega) was used. Hookes Law
states that the relationship between the distance in which the spring is stretched and the force applied to the spring can be
represented with the equation Force=- spring constant (change in position of the spring). And lastly the equation
mass(gravity)amplitude(KE)1/2mass(max v)^2 becomes handy when calculating the potential and kinetic energy.
SIMPLE PENDULUM
In this experiment a ring stand, four different length pendulums, stopwatch, and a physical pendulum were the
required materials. With these materials we attached a mass (50 grams initially) to a string (length of 25 cm),
and measured the time it took the string with the mass to make a full five swings; this procedure was
repeated 4 different times but changing the length of the string each time, however the mass stayed constant.
Later we repeated this whole experiment again but with the mass of a 100 grams this time rater than 50 like
the previous time. The second experiment we conduced was with a physical pendulum with the 5 different
holes and similarly again we calculated the time it took to make 5 full swings for each hole. We were able to
calculate the period with this formula T=(2)*(I/mgh)^1/2 (in this equation the m stands for the mass of the pendulum, g is

Page 1

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602

the acceleration of gravity, h is the distance from the center of the mass of the pendulum to the axis of rotation, I is inertia,
and lastly the h is the distance from the center of the mass of the pendulum). The inertia in this lab can be calculated with
the equation (1/12)*m(a^2+b^2)*L2, but since we used different location s in the pendulum, inertia can be calculated with
the formula I=Icm+mh2 (where m is mass, a is acceleration, L is the length of the rod). We assumed that whenever there
were small angles that it is similar to the sine because they are very close as they approach 0, resulting with the equation
2pi(sqrt(length/gravity)).

STANDING WAVE
String vibrator, power supply, sine wave generator, 2 cords of different gages, clamp for
vibrator, rod for vibrator, pulley, clamp for pulley, mass hanger, masses, meter stick, and
a balance were the necessary equipment for this lab. The cord was attached to the
oscillator and a pulley, on the other side of the pulley a 100 grams of weight was suspended from the cord. With the
adjustments of the frequency knob we were easily able to create the 1st, 2n, 3rd, 4th, and the 5th harmonic, this frequency
was recorded. Frequency*wavelength=sqrt(tension /density) was an important equation while doing the calculation in this
lab.
MYSTERY OSCILLATION
The materials needed were rotary table, hanging mass, rotary incoder, pulley, and table clamp. We
attached a string to the rotator incoder (twisted the string around the wheel a few times) and
through a pulley that was set off the table, and a mass was attached to the end of the string. And
with the help of the machinery we recorded the velocity vs time, angle vs time, and the acceleration
vs time when the mass was dropped down and allowed to bounce around. We repeated the
experiment but this time we only let the wheel rotate from -90 degrees to 90 degrees. Speed of the wave can be calculated
using the formula speed = frequency(wavelength) or velocity=sqrt(tension in the string/density of the string). The
harmonic independent number (n)= 2* length/wavelength (n=2L/).With the manipulation of putting together some of the
equations in the lab manual the following equation was developed sqrt(tension/density)= 2length*frequency/n.
DATA AND GRAPHS
Table 1: Data table for simple harmonic spring oscillations
m added (g)

m total (g)

w (rad/s)

k (N/m)

w theor

Difference

50

69.8

12.34

10.63

11.969397

3%

100

119.8

8.839

9.360

9.1363261

3%

150

169.8

7.485

9.513

7.6741654

2%

200

219.8

6.635

9.676

6.7450653

1%

250

269.8

6.013

9.755

6.0880614

1%

average k:

9.79

std dev k:

0.495

Page 2

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602

Table 2:looking at energy for simple harmonic spring oscillation

m added (g)

A (m)

V max (m/s)

Us max (J)

K max (J)

Difference

50

0.003

0.023

0.0017

0.0018

8%

100

0.004

0.036

0.0047

0.0078

65%

150

0.003

0.023

0.0050

0.0045

10%

200

0.003

0.020

0.0054

0.0044

18%

250

0.016

0.090

0.0423

0.1093

158%

Table 3:Simple pendulum with 50g haning mass

Length (m)

5 swings (s)

T exp (s)

T th (s)

Difference

0.25

6.38

1.28

1.00

21%

0.50

8.10

1.62

1.42

12%

0.75

9.14

1.83

1.74

4.9%

1.00

10.51

2.102

2.01

4.5%

1.25

11.01

2.202

2.24

1.9%

Table 4: simple pendulum with 100g hanging mass

Length (m)

5 swings (s)

T exp (s)

T th (s)

Difference

0.25

6.12

1.22

1.00

18%

0.50

8.03

1.61

1.42

12%

0.75

9.09

1.82

1.74

4.4%

1.00

9.99

2.00

2.01

0.5%

1.25

10.90

2.180

2.24

2.9%

Table 5: Physical Pendulum

Hole

5 swings (s)

H (m)

I (kgm^2)

T exp (s)

T th (s)

Difference

3.79

0.08

0.002057

0.758

0.568

25%

3.44

0.04

0.0005142

0.688

0.401

42%

28.9

5.78

0.000

100%

4.90

0.025

0.0002009

0.980

0.317

68%

4.37

0.05

0.0008035

0.874

0.449

49%

Table 6: Standing wave on the first string- frequency

n

f (Hz)

wave l (m)

v1 (m/s)

v2 (m/s)

Difference

8.6

2.94

25.28

21.58

14.6%

18.8

1.47

27.64

21.58

21.9%

27.6

0.98

27.05

21.58

20.2%

Page 3

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602
4

37.2

47.3

0.735

27.34

21.58

21.1%

0.588

27.81

21.58

22.4%

Table 7: Standing wave on second string-frequency

n

f (Hz)

wave l (m)

v1 (m/s)

v2 (m/s)

Difference

13.3

2.94

39.10

41.33

5.7%

26.6

1.47

39.10

41.33

5.7%

39.9

0.98

39.10

41.33

5.7%

51.9

0.735

38.15

41.33

8.4%

63.9

0.588

37.57

41.33

10%

Table 8: Standing wave on the first string- tension

mh (g)

Tension (N)

F (Hz)

wavel (m)

v1 (m/s)

v2 (m/s)

Difference

20

1.38

30.2

0.98

29.6

23.3

21.4%

40

1.58

32.2

0.98

31.6

24.9

21.1%

60

1.77

34.2

0.98

33.5

26.3

21.4%

80

1.97

36

0.98

35.3

27.8

21.2%

100

2.16

37.7

0.98

36.9

29.1

21.2%

Table 9: Standing wave on second string- tension

mh (g)

Tension (N)

F (Hz)

wavel (m)

20

1.38

39.9

0.98

40

1.58

42.9

0.98

60

1.77

45.9

0.98

80

1.97

48.3

100

2.16

50.7

v1 (m/s)

v2 (m/s)

Difference

39.1

28.9

26.0%

42.0

30.9

26.4%

45.0

32.8

27.2%

0.98

47.3

34.6

27.0%

0.98

49.7

36.2

27.2%

Using the k (spring constant) value found in lab 1- 10

w (rad/s)

w vs total mass

10
5
y = 113.57x-0.528
R = 0.9951

0
0

100

200

ln|w| (rad/s)

15

ln w vs total mass

2.5
2
1.5

y = -0.528ln(x) + 4.7325
R = 0.9951

1
0.5
0

300

total mass (g)

100

200

total mass (g)

Page 4

300

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602
2.5

Period vs Length (100 g)

Period vs Length (50 g)

2.5

Period (s)

Period (s)

2
1.5
1

y = 0.9336x + 1.1054
R = 0.9721

0.5

1.5
y = 0.9216x + 1.074
R = 0.97

1
0.5

0
0

0.5

1.5

0.5

Length (m)

1.5

Length (m)
Mystery Oscillator Acceleration

Mystery Oscillator Position

Myster Oscillator Velocity

400

1000
0

10

20

200

30

-2000

0
0

-4000

10

-1000

Time

30

-200

200
100
4

200

200

100

100
0

-100 0
-200

Time

-100

-200

Time

4
Time

CALCULATIONS
DATA TABLE 1:

Calculating the % Difference

Calculating k (N/m)

% difference=
=|

=12.34(rad/s)*.0698(kg)=10.63(N/m)

DATA TABLE 2:

Calculating wtheory

Calculating us max (J
us max=mass(kg)*9.8*time for 5 swing (s)
=.0698(kg).9.8*003(m)=.0017 J

wtheory=
=

30

-90 to 90 Acceleration

20
Time

-90 to 90 Velocity

300

10

-400

Time

-90 to 90 Postion

-100 0

20

(N/mkg)

Page 5

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602

Calculating K max (J)

=.568 (s)

k max=
(m.s)
=.5*.0698(kg)*.023(m/s)=.0018 (J)

Calculating the % difference

Calculating % difference

% difference=

% difference=

=18%

DATA TABLE 6 and 7:

DATA TABLE 3 and 4:

Calculating v1 (m/s)

Calculating T exp. (s)

V1 (m/s)=frequency (Hz)*wave length (m)

=8.6 (Hz)*2.94 (m)=25.28(m/s)

T experimental (s)=time for 5 swings (s)/5

=6.38/5=1.28 s

Calculating v1 (m/s)

Calculating T ther (s)

V2 (m/s)=

T theory (s)=

=25.58 (m/s)

Calculating difference %:
% difference=

Calculating the % difference

% difference=
=

=
=21%

DATA TABLE 7 and 8:

DATA TABLE 5:

Calculating v1 (m/s)

Calculating I (kgm^2)

v1 (m/s)=Frequency(Hz)*wave length(m/s)
=30.2 (Hz)*.98 (m)=29.6 (m/s)

I (kgm^2)=.3214*height (m)^2
=.3215*.08^2(m)=.0021(kgm^2)

Calculating v2 (m/s)
v2 (m/s)=(tension (N)/density(kg/L))^.5
=(1.38 (N)/.00255)^.5=23.3(m/s)

Calculating T exp (s)

T exp (s)=time for 5 swings (s)/5
=3.79/5=.758 (s)

Calculating the % difference

% difference=

Calculating T ther (s)

T ther (s)=

Page 6

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602

RESULTS, ANALYSIS, AND CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Simple Harmonic Oscillator-Analysis
1. =

2.The slope of the w verses mass graph stands for Kconstant (N/m)
3. Energy from the harmonic oscillator experiment was conserved, and our percent differences between Potential Energy
and Kinetic Energy are very low they ranging from 1% to 3% proving this.
4. Oscillation was observed in both the simple pendulum and the spring harmonic oscillator. The simple pendulum resulted
with a lower percent error; this was as expected, because the simple pendulum was not a subject to human error while the
spring harmonic we calculated in a situation that had a high chance of human error.
5.2 Simple Pendulum-Analysis
1. This is due to the weight being added to a string attached to a rigid support, and you can confirm that because they both
osculate. The period of the pendulum is T=2sqrt(I/mgh) and when you replace the I with mL^2, you would result in
T=2sqrt(mL^2/mgh).
2. We made the approximations, which the physical pendulum and simple pendulum have been behaving in the same way.
When compared to the theory, the period and the inertia will be greater.
3. When I compared the percent error to the slope of the T to L plot and the power of L in our theoretical equation of the
period of a simple pendulum, I concluded with the theory that as the length of the string increases, the time it takes to
make a full swing also increases, there is a positive correlation between them.
4. The simple pendulum at rest is the physical quantity being represented by the y intercept of the T vs. L graph.
5. Even though the percent error between the quantity(y-intercept) and gravity is 88%, which is really high, I however do a
slight correlation between the gravity and the y-intercept.

Page 7

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602

5.3 Standing Wave-Analysis

1.

fvn

y = 9.58x - 0.84
R = 0.9995

50
45
40
35
30
25

f (Hz)

20

Linear (f (Hz))

15
10
5
0
0

fvn

y = 12.65x + 1.17
R = 0.9993

70
60
50
40

f (Hz)

30

Linear (f (Hz))

20
10
0
0

2. v1= f

v2=

f=

f=

3. The slope of the equation from question 2 above, when simplified results in
4. With the use of the slope from the equation:

, density can be calculated. The calculated density of the first

string gave us the answer of .000898 and the calculated density of the second string was .000767. The results of our
calculated density was reasonable.

Page 8

Oscillations
PHYS 2125-602

5. The calculated percent difference resulted between the all the acquired densities for the first string resulted in 50.92%
and the calculated percent difference between all the acquired densities for the second string resulted in 22.01%.
6. The experimental and the liberalized equation from the frequency and the tension graph was y = 9.64x+16.98 and y =
13.85x + 21
7. The slop from the experimental equation represents the numerical value for f = T*square root (t/)/2L. It is obvious
that the frequency and the tension in question 2 were the same.
8. The density for reach of the red and the yellow string was calculated with the following equation
Yellow string:
9.64=sqrt(1.772)/4(.98)2
=..000359
Red String:
12.65= sqrt(1.772)/4(.98)2
=.000027
9. Percent error in densities
Yellow string: 49%
Reds string: 72%
10. The red string used in the first experiment accumulated with the lower percent error, this was probably because we
may have miscalculated/measured the length or the weight of the string wrong, this caused all the calculation to be
messed up and we may have had the wrong mass of the hanger because the balance may not have been zeroed out, so it
yielded in a high percent error.
5.4 Mystery oscillator-Analysis
1. In this we observed that the results with the difference masses represent the sine curve, however the amplitude differed.
Acceleration verse time graph did not have a set correlation, but you do see a pattern.
2. Kinetic energy transferring to potential energy creates motion. Friction causes the rotational and angular frequency to
cease. The dropped mass causes a change in acceleration and velocity.
Results and Conclusion:
In this experiment I was able to learn about the different properties of oscillations, and how each property affects the
others. We conducted the following experiments simple harmonic oscillator, simple pendulum, physical pendulums, and the
standing waves; by doing these experiments it was evident, observing, and calculating valuable information it became
evidently clear what the similarities and differences for each of the different oscillations. We have made the observed that
energy was conserved (how potential energy converted to kinetic energy, this proves that energy is neither created nor
destroyed). Some of the possible sources of error in the simple harmonic oscillator experiment, the spring we used had
bents in it which caused the spring not to bounce perfectly, and also instead of the spring just moving up and down
vertically our spring kept swing slightly in a horizontal direction. There were also human reaction time error because when
we used the stop watch, we have to take in consideration of the time it takes to press the start button and the stop button
after 5 swings perfectly (it is almost nearly impossible to calculate the time for that accurately using a manual stopwatch).
From the simple and the physical pendulum periodic motion was observed. And the observation of the relationship between
frequency and the densitys affecting the wave was made from the standing wave experiment.

Page 9