SPANDAN MANDAL

Experiment No. – 1
𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡 – 𝐴
Let 𝐿0 be the length of the spring when the spring is kept horizontal under no tension, 𝑚 be the mass
attached to the free end of the spring, 𝐿𝑚 be the length of the spring when the mass is attached at its
lower end, 𝑆𝑚 be the equilibrium extension of the spring for mass 𝑚, 𝑚𝑠 be the mass of the spring, 𝐾
be the spring constant and g be the acceleration due to gravity.
Thus, 𝑆𝑚 = 𝐿𝑚 − 𝐿0
Here the tension in the spring varies along the spring from (𝑚 + 𝑚𝑠 )𝑔 at the top to mg at the bottom.
We can write, 𝑇(𝑥) = (𝑚 + 𝑚𝑠 )g – C g x
Where, 𝐶 is a constant of proportionality. 𝐶 = 𝑚𝑠 /𝐿0 and 𝑥 is the distance from the top of the given
point; 𝑥 varies from 0 to 𝐿0 .
We can determine the expression for 𝑆𝑚 , by taking extension of a small element of length ∆𝑥, and
integrating over the total length of the spring.
The final expression, which we get is, 𝑆𝑚 = (𝑚 + 𝑚𝑠 /2)(𝑔/𝐾)

Now, (𝑆𝑚𝑛 – 𝑆𝑚1 ) = (𝐿𝑚𝑛 – 𝐿𝑚1 ) = (𝑚𝑛 – 𝑚1 )(𝑔/𝐾)

If, we plot (𝐿𝑚𝑛 – 𝐿𝑚1 ) vs (𝑚𝑛 – 𝑚1 ) graph the slope of the graph will be (𝑔/𝐾).

• Mass of 10 Rupee Coins taken are ………..

7.60 7.74 7.72 7.60 7.72 7.57

Average mass of coins = 7.66 gm
Here the data sheet for increasing mass and decreasing mass are shown in table-1

No of Mass of coin Length of Spring (𝐿𝑚𝑛 – 𝐿𝑚1 ) (𝑚𝑛 – 𝑚1 )

Observation (𝑚𝑛 )(gm) (𝐿𝑚𝑛 ) (cm) (cm) (gm)
1 (𝑚1 )m’=7.66 24.5 0 0
2 2m’ 26.1 1.6 7.66
3 3m’ 28.1 3.6 15.32
4 4m’ 30 5.5 22.98
5 5m’ 32 7.5 30.64
6 6m’ 34.1 9.6 38.30
& table- 2
No of Mass of coin Length of Spring (𝐿𝑚𝑛 – 𝐿𝑚1 ) (𝑚𝑛 – 𝑚1 )
Observation (𝑚𝑛 )(gm) (𝐿𝑚𝑛 ) (cm) (cm) (gm)
1 6m’’ 34.2 9.2 38.30
2 5m’’ 32.5 7.5 30.64
3 4m’’ 30.6 5.6 22.98
4 3m’’ 28.7 3.7 15.32
5 2m’’ 26.7 1.7 7.66
 6 m’’ (𝑚1 ) 25 0 0

In the first case the while increasing the mass the slope = (𝑔/𝐾) = 0.245193 cm/gm . So, the value of
K = 3.997 𝑁/𝑚
In the second case, while decreasing the mass the slope = (𝑔/𝐾) = 0.24187 cm/gm. So the value of K=
4.052 𝑁/𝑚
So, average value for K is 4.024 𝑁/𝑚

• Here Y axis = (𝐿𝑚𝑛 – 𝐿𝑚1 ) cm and X axis = (𝑚𝑛 – 𝑚1 ) 𝑔𝑚 and orange line for 1st case & green
line for second case.

• Now here we can see that in two cases, while

increasing the mass the value of K is less than
while decreasing the mass. I think this is
because, while increasing mass the spring gains
some extra permanent elongation, which affects
the readings while decreasing the mass ! Also there are a lot of errors that occurred in my
reading, which I will show separately !

𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡 – 𝐵
Here I do not know whether it is a soft massive spring or not , so I can’t neglect the mass of the spring
since these springs can oscillate without any attached mass. We thus need to modify the expression 𝑇 =
𝑚
2π√ 𝐾 . This can be done using the principle of conservation of energy, i.e. Potential Energy + Kinetic
Energy = Constant.
The modified expression, which we get is,
𝑚
𝑚+ 𝑠
𝑇 = 2π√ 3
𝐾
𝑚
𝑚𝑛 + 𝑠
Now 𝑇𝑛2 = 4π2 3
(𝑇𝑛 is the time period for 𝑚𝑛 mass ganging there)
𝐾
 4π2
→ ( 𝑇𝑛2 − 𝑇12 ) = 𝐾
(𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1 )

4π2
If we plot ( 𝑇𝑛2 − 𝑇12 ) vs (𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1 ) graph the slope of that will give .
𝐾

• Here is the data sheet for calculating slope.

No. of Mass Time for 10 time Time Avg. Time 𝑇𝑛2 𝑇𝑛2 − 𝑇12 𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1
Obs. (gm) oscillation period (𝑇
Period 𝑛 )(s) (𝑠 2 ) (𝑠 2 )
1 4.25 0.425
2 4.25 0.425 0.180059
3 m 4.23 0.423 0.424333333 (𝑇12 ) 0 0
4 4.37 0.437
5 4.38 0.438
6 2m 4.39 0.439 0.438 0.191844 0.011785 m
7 4.75 0.475
8 4.75 0.475
9 3m 4.7 0.47 0.473333333 0.224044 0.043986 2m
10 5.2 0.52
11 5.23 0.523
12 4m 5.26 0.526 0.523 0.273529 0.09347 3m
13 5.88 0.588
14 5.88 0.588
15 5m 5.92 0.592 0.589333333 0.347314 0.167255 4m
16 6.32 0.632
17 6.28 0.628
18 6m 6.28 0.628 0.629333333 0.39606 0.216002 5m

4π2
Now the slope = = 0.009758 𝑠 2 /𝑔𝑚
𝐾
1
K = 4π2 = 7.812 𝑁/𝑚
1000∗0.00505387
 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡 – 𝐶
While oscillating the spring with different masses I noticed that damping force (𝐹 = −𝑏𝑣) is working
𝑏
there and the amplitude is decreasing exponentially. 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝐴0 𝑒 −β𝑡 (β = )
2𝑚

Now, we will plot amplitude A(t) vs. time(t) graph and then plot 𝑙𝑛 𝐴(𝑡) vs 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒(𝑡) and the slope of
this graph will give β. 𝑙𝑛𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑙𝑛𝐴0 − β𝑡

• Here is the data sheet for calculating slope.

mass no of Amplitude
(gm) obs. (cm) ln A(t) time(t)
1 3.1 1.131402111 0.2
2 2.7 0.993251773 0.5
3 2.3 0.832909123 1
4 2.1 0.741937345 1.75
5 2 0.693147181 2.25
6 1.8 0.587786665 2.75
7 1.6 0.470003629 3.25
8 1.5 0.405465108 4
3m= 9 1.4 0.336472237 4.5
22.98 10 1.3 0.262364264 5

• From the graph we can see an almost exponential pattern, which enables us to prove that there
is a damping force working on the spring.

• Here Y axis = A(t) cm and X axis = time(t) sec.

• Here Y axis = ln A(t) and X axis = time(t) sec.

• From the graph we can see that the slope = 𝛽 =

0.168489
 Error Analysis

• The error analysis for the Part A requires the working formula……….

(𝐿𝑚𝑛 – 𝐿𝑚1 ) = (𝑚𝑛 – 𝑚1 )(𝑔/𝐾)

(𝑚𝑛 –𝑚1 )
Now, 𝐾 = (𝐿𝑛 –𝐿1 )
𝑔 → 𝑙𝑛𝐾 = 𝑙𝑛(𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1 ) − 𝑙𝑛(𝐿𝑛 − 𝐿1 ) + 𝑙𝑛𝑔

𝑑𝐾 2𝑑𝑚 2𝑑𝑙
→ |
𝐾 𝑚𝑎𝑥
= (𝑚 + now dm= 0.01 gm & dl= 0.2 cm and we chose a random point on
𝑛 –𝑚1 ) (𝐿𝑚𝑛 –𝐿𝑚1 )
the graph plotted as (36, 8.827)
𝑑𝐾 2*0.01 2*0.2
→ | = + = 0.0459 & dK = 0.0459 * 4.024 = 0.1847 N/m so, % error in K
𝐾 𝑚𝑎𝑥 36 8.827
from part A is 4.59%
Value of K = 4.024 ± 0.1847 N/m
4π2
• The error analysis for the Part A requires the working formula….( 𝑇𝑛2 − 𝑇12 ) = 𝐾
(𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1 )

4π2
Now, 𝐾 = (𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1 ) → 𝑙𝑛𝐾 = 𝑙𝑛(𝑚𝑛 − 𝑚1 ) − 𝑙𝑛( 𝑇𝑛2 − 𝑇12 ) + 𝑙𝑛4π2
( 𝑇𝑛2 −𝑇12 )

𝑑𝐾 2𝑑𝑚 2𝑇 𝑑𝑇+2𝑇 𝑑𝑇
→ |
𝐾 𝑚𝑎𝑥
= (𝑚 –𝑚 )
+ 𝑛 2 −𝑇 21 now dm = 0.01 gm & dT = 0.01 sec and we choose a random
𝑛 1 (𝑇𝑛 1 )
point on graph plotted as (33,0.167), (𝑇𝑛2 − 𝑇12 ) = 0.167𝑠 2 , 𝑠𝑜 𝑇𝑛 = 0.59 s
𝑑𝐾 2*0.01 2*0.59*0.01+2* 0.42 * 0.01
→ |
𝐾 𝑚𝑎𝑥
= 33
+ 0.167
= 0.1216 & dK = 0.9499 N/m, so %error in K from part
B is 12.16%
Value of K = 7.812 ± 0.9499 N/m

Remarks:
• Through this experiment I could learn a lot of things. Although as I designed the instrument at
my home available goods so there are a lot of instrumental error which is unknow to me. So it
creates huge difference in the result obtained for K in part A & B.
• While taking readings of the Part C I latter tried the experiment in Air (readings available here),
Water & Oil ( due to my interest but unfortunately I could not be able to record the video and
take proper reading for them ) and I also noticed that in air the spring takes almost 20 to 30
seconds to stop at equilibrium position, but for water it is almost 10 seconds and in oil it is
almost 14 seconds.
• Due to limitation of time I preferred to submit the graph from desmos graphing calculator, as
hand drawn graphs also gives us some extra errors in reading.