NAME _________________________________________________________ AP PHYSICS 1

LAB # 12
PERIOD OF A SPRING

PURPOSE- to determine which factors affect the period of oscillation of a spring and to determine the
spring constant for a spring.

PROCEDURE-

*Use the following link for the online lab and click on “Lab”:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/masses-and-springs-basics/latest/masses-and-springs-basics_en.html

PART 1: DOES AMPLITUDE AFFECT THE PERIOD OF A SPRING?

1. In the spring strength window, there are 10 positions ranging from small (weakest) to large (strongest).
Choose one of these positions (Small = 1 → Large = 10) and record the number in the data table.

2. Click on the yellow block and attach it to the spring. You can adjust the mass of the yellow block. (The
green, red and purple masses are unknown- don’t use them for this lab.) Choose a mass value and
record it in the data table. (You can choose masses from 50 grams to 300 grams.) Keep the mass
constant for Part 1.

*Be careful with your spring strength and mass combinations chosen! A small spring strength and
a large mass will cause the mass to hang so low it will be out of view! Adjust accordingly!

3. Make sure that “Gravity” is set to Earth. This should be the default setting.
4. Click on the “tools” window to drag the ruler and stopwatch/timer near the mass-spring set-up.

5. Move the ruler next to the spring-mass set-up while the system is at rest.

*To stop the spring from oscillating, click on the red stop sign icon near the top of the spring.

6. Gently pull the mass down 5.0 cm from its “rest” position.

7. Release the mass and allow it to oscillate.

8. Using the stopwatch/timer (or the stopwatch on your cell phone), time how long it takes for the mass to
complete 5 oscillations. Record times in data table.

9. Determine the average time.

10. To determine the period of oscillation, divide the average time (obtained in step 9) by 5.

11. Repeat the procedure for each amplitude listed in the data table.

12. Repeat for a different spring strength.

DATA (PART 1):

SPRING 1 STRENGTH POSITION = _____ MASS = ___________ g

AMPLITUDE TIME FOR 5 AVERAGE TIME PERIOD

(cm) OSCILLATIONS (sec) (sec)
(sec)

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

SPRING 2 STRENGTH POSITION = _____ MASS = ___________ g

AMPLITUDE TIME FOR 5 AVERAGE TIME PERIOD

(cm) OSCILLATIONS (sec) (sec)
(sec)

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0
PART 2: DOES MASS AFFECT THE PERIOD OF A SPRING?

1. Use the same spring strengths as in part 1. Choose an amplitude and record the value in the data table.
Keep the amplitude constant for Part 2.

2. Adjust the mass of the yellow block and record the mass in the data table. To convert from grams to
kilograms, move the decimal 3 places to the LEFT.)

3. Move the ruler vertically next to the spring. Gently pull the mass down from its “rest” position the
distance chosen and recorded as your amplitude.

4. Release the mass and allow it to oscillate.

5. Using the stopwatch, time how long it takes for the mass to complete 5 oscillations. Record times in the
data table.

6. Determine the average time.

7. To determine the period of oscillation, divide the average time (obtained in step 6) by 5.

8. Repeat the procedure for four different masses.

9. Repeat for spring strength 2. (The same strength chosen in Part 1).
DATA (PART 2):

SPRING 1 STRENGTH POSITION = _____

AMPLITUDE = ________ cm

x axis y axis
MASS MASS TIME FOR 5 AVERAGE PERIOD PERIOD
(g) (Kg) OSCILLATIONS TIME (sec) SQUARED
(sec) (sec) (sec2)
SPRING 2 STRENGTH POSITION = _____

AMPLITUDE = ________ cm

x axis y axis
MASS MASS TIME FOR 5 AVERAGE PERIOD PERIOD
(g) (Kg) OSCILLATIONS TIME (sec) SQUARED
(sec) (sec) (sec2)
CONCLUSION QUESTIONS- Answer all non-calculation questions, denoted with a *, in complete
sentences on separate paper. (Five points will be deducted if all answers to
these questions are not in complete sentences!)

*1a. According to your data from Part 1, what happens to the period of oscillation of spring 1 as the
amplitude is increased? Note any inconsistencies in your data. [3]

*b. According to your data from Part 1, what happens to the period of oscillation of spring 2 as the
amplitude is increased? Note any inconsistencies in your data. [3]

*2. Theoretically, what should happen to the period of a spring as the amplitude is increased? [3]

*3a. According to your data from Part 2, what happens to the period of oscillation of spring 1 as the mass
is increased? Note any inconsistencies in your data. [3]

*b. According to your data from Part 2, what happens to the period of oscillation of spring 2 as the mass is
increased? Note any inconsistencies in your data. [3]

*4. Theoretically, what should happen to the period of a spring as the mass is increased? [3]

*5. What is the name of the relationship between mass and period for an oscillating spring system? (direct
linear, direct square, inverse, inverse square) [3]

6. On graph paper, using your data from Part 2, construct two separate graphs, one for each spring,
according to the following steps:

a) Develop an appropriate scale with PERIOD SQUARED (in seconds2) on the y-axis and MASS (in
Kg) on the x-axis. Start each axis at zero. [2, 2]

b) Label each axis (quantity and units). [2]

c) Plot and circle all data points. Include (0,0) as a data point! [6]

d) Connect data points with a best-fit line. [5]

e) Write the title of the graph at the top of the page. [1]
7. Using your graphs from conclusion question 6, determine the spring constant (k) of each spring
according to the following procedure:

a) Choose two points on your each best fit line and mark them with an X. Label the coordinate of these
points on your graph. [4]

b) Using the two points chosen from 7a, determine the slope of each best fit line. Using these slope
calculations, the experimental spring constant for each spring can be found using the equation:

k = 4 π2 m
T2

SHOW ALL WORK, including equations and substitutions with units. [4 each]

8. Calculate the percent deviation between the experimental spring constant for each of the two springs
determined in Conclusion Question 7b and the theoretical values below. Show all work, including
equations and substitutions with units. [4 each]

% DEV = THEO - EXP x 100

THEO

Theoretical Spring Constants:

Position 1 = 3.0 N/m
Position 2 = 4.0 N/m
Position 3 = 5.0 N/m
Position 4 = 6.0 N/m
Position 5 = 7.0 N/m
Position 6 = 8.0 N/m
Position 7 = 9.0 N/m
Position 8 = 10.0 N/m
Position 9 = 11.0 N/m
Position 10 = 12.0 N/m

*This lab is worth 81 points and will be converted to a grade out of 100.
• Cover Page = 3 points
• Data Tables = 10 points