Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Aviation and Aerospace University

(BSMRAAU)

LAB REPORT
Experiment no: 02
Name of Experiment: To determine the spring constant and effective mass of a
given spiral spring.

Date of Performance: 08.02.2023

Date of Experiment Submission:

Group : D
Roll no:
Student Information:
Maruf Ahmed (22014016)
Tanzilul Islam Promi (22014022)
Md. Ridoan Hasan (22014023)
Abu Salehin Ahmed (22014025)
Md. Jubayer Ahmed Sajid (22014029)

Department: Aeronautical Engineering ( Aerospace)

Name: Physics Sessional

Course Code: PHY 4202

Submitted To: Asst. Prof. Masud Parvez

Theory:
Consider, a spring is clamped vertically at the end P and loaded with a mass 𝑚0 at the other end
A. The spring extends to the position O by adding a suitable weight to the free end A. If the
extension is 𝑙 (as shown in figure 1) then
𝑚0𝑔 = 𝑘𝑙
𝑚0
∴𝑘= 𝑔 … … … … … … (1)
𝑙

Where 𝑘 is the spring constant of the given spiral spring.

Now, the period of vibration of the spring along a vertical line is given by,

𝑀 𝑚0 + 𝑚 ′ … … … … (2)
𝑇 = 2𝜋√ = 2𝜋√
𝑘 𝑘

Where 𝑚′ is a constant called the effective mass of the spring and 𝑘 is the spring constant i.e. the
ratio between the added force and the corresponding extension of the spring.

𝑷
𝒚

𝒅𝒎 𝒗

𝒍
𝑶

𝑩 𝒙

Figure-1: Measuring spring constant and effective mass

How the mass of the spring contributes to the effective mass of the vibrating system can be
shown as follows:
Consider the kinetic energy of a spring and its load undergoing a simple harmonic motion. At the
instant under consideration, let the load 𝑚0 be moving with velocity 𝑣0 (as shown in figure-1).
At the same instant, an element 𝑑𝑚 of the mass 𝑚 of the spring will also be moving up but with
a velocity 𝑣 which is smaller than 𝑣0.
It is evident that the ratio between 𝑣 and 𝑣0 is just the ratio between 𝑦 and 𝑦0.
𝑣0
Hence, 𝑣 =
𝑦 𝑦0

𝑣0
⇒𝑣= 𝑦
𝑦0
𝑑𝑦
Similarly, we have, 𝑑𝑚 =
𝑚 𝑦0

𝑚
⇒ 𝑑𝑚 = 𝑑𝑦
𝑦0

2 2
𝑚 1 𝑣
Now the kinetic energy of the spring element= 1 𝑣2𝑑𝑚 = 1 . 𝑣02 𝑦2. 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 2 𝑦03 𝑚𝑦2𝑑𝑦
2 2 𝑦0 0 0

2
And the kinetic energy of the spring= ∫ 𝑦0 1 𝑣0 𝑚𝑦2𝑑𝑦
0 2 𝑦30

2
=
1 𝑣 0 [𝑦3 0
]
2 𝑦03 3 0

1 𝑣2 𝑦3
0 0
=2 𝑦3 3
0

1 𝑚
= ( )2
2 3 0

1 𝑚
Then the total kinetic energy of the system= (𝑚 + )2
2 0 3 0

𝑚
Therefore, the effective mass of the system is (𝑚0 + 3 ) and the effective mass of the spring,

𝑚
𝑚′ = … … … … … … . . (3)
3

Apparatus:
A spiral spring, convenient masses with hanging arrangement, clamp, stop clock and scale.
 Data Table :

(A) Length of the spring, 𝐿 =21.5𝑐𝑚

Original mass of the spring, 𝑚 =57𝑔𝑚

(B) Determinations of extensions and time periods:

Table: Determinations of extensions and time periods

No. Loads Extension No. of Total time Time 𝑻𝟐

of 𝒎𝟎 𝒍 vibration 𝒕 period 𝒔𝟐
obs. (gm) (cm) 𝒏 (s) 𝑻 = 𝒕/𝒏
(s)
1 5.75 6.05 0.605 0.366
99 10
2 199 11.85 7.61 0.761 0.579
10
3 298 18.75 9.02 0. 902 0.814
10
4 398 24.45 10 10.60 1.06 1.124

5 500 31.75 10 12.34 1.234 1.523

Graph:

Graph-01
 Time Squre vs Mass
1.6

1.4

1.2
Time squre(s^2)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
-100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Mass(gm)

Graph -02

Calculation:

We know,
𝑚0 𝑔
𝑘= 𝑔⇒𝑘=
𝑙
𝑙 ( )
𝑚0

But 𝑙
is the slope from the first graph,
𝑚0
𝑔
∴𝑘= 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒

Now, From the first graph we have, slope = 0.0645cm/gm

Here , Gravitational acceleration, g = 9.81 𝑚𝑠 −2

 𝑔
981 𝑐𝑚𝑠 −2
𝑘= =
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 0.645 𝑔𝑚/𝑐𝑚

=1520.93 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚

The original mass of the spring, 𝑚 = 57𝑔𝑚

1 1
So, the original effective mass = 𝑚 = ×57𝑔𝑚
3 3

=13 𝑔𝑚

Again, From graph effective mass, 𝑚′ =13.95𝑔𝑚

13−13.95
Percentage of error= |
13
| × 100%

= |− 0.0731| × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%

= 7.31%

Result:

The spring constant ,𝑘 = 1520.93 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑒/𝑐𝑚

Experimental effective mass, 𝑚′ =13.95𝑔𝑚

% of error=7.31%

Discussions:
A spiral spring is a mechanical device made of a coiled wire that when
compressed or stretched, stores energy and releases it as a force. In this experiment, the
objective was to determine the spring constant and effective mass of a given spiral spring.
The spring constant, also known as the force constant, is a measure of the force required to
extend or compress the spring a certain distance. The effective mass, on the other hand, is
the total mass that must be added to or removed from the spring to produce a given
frequency of oscillation.

To determine the spring constant, the spring was hung vertically and weights were added
to it to compress it. The change in length of the spring was measured as the weights were
added, and the force required to compress the spring was calculated using Newton's second
law of motion (F = ma). The spring constant was then calculated using Hooke's law (F =
kx), where F is the force, k is the spring constant, and x is the change in length of the
spring.

To determine the effective mass, the spring-mass system was set up as a simple pendulum,
and the period of oscillation was measured for different masses. The effective mass was
calculated from the period of oscillation using the formula T = 2π√((m´+m)/k)), where T is
the period, m is total mass of the spring, m´ is the effective mass, and k is the spring
constant.
It is important to note that the accuracy of the results depends on the precision of the
measurements taken during the experiment. It is also important to take into account any
systematic errors that may have been introduced during the experiment, such as friction or
air resistance.
Measurement of spring weight:
 If the wire is not uniform then readings have to taken at different points
and mean of them is the best reading.
 While hanging the weights that should lie along the axis of spring .This
doesn’t occur during experiment.

Measurement of time period:

 Firstly measurement of time period is not accurate due to personal

observation error.

 Oscillations should occur in vertical plane but it oscillates little in a

horizontalplane also.

After conducting the experiment we have got the spring constant and the effective mass
of the given spiral spring are 1520.93 dyne/cm and 13.95 gm.
In conclusion, determining the spring constant and effective mass of a spiral spring is an
important task in the field of mechanics, as it provides insight into the properties of the
spring and how it behaves under different conditions. This information can be used in
various engineering applications, such as the design of suspension systems in vehicles or
the analysis of mechanical system.