Harmonic Motion of
a Spring
Physics 1
Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School
May 3, 2018
Agenda
●
●
●
●
●
Definition
Key Questions Review
Harmonic Motion of Springs
Laboratory Equipment
Laboratory Expectations
Types of Springs
Rubber band spring
Coil springs
Leaf springs
Bungee spring
Key Questions
●
●
●
●
Does a spring stretch linearly with an applied force?
How can you determine the constant of stretch?
Is there a minimum and maximum limit to linear stretch?
What does a plot of applied force versus the stretch look
like?
● NEW: How does the mass of an object attached to a
spring affect the period of oscillation?
Harmonic Motion of Springs
Springs “bounce” at a defined rate, ω
that depends both on the
“stretchiness” of the spring and on the
force applied to the spring, as shown
by the equation for Hooke’s Law:
Note on Harmonic Motion of Springs
This motion does
not depend on
gravity, at all!
Laboratory Equipment Available
●
●
●
●
●
4 different spring lengths
Measuring tools
Clamps, vises
Bags
Weights: 1 lb, 3 lb, 6 lb, 8 lb
Laboratory Expectations
Work in groups of 2, or by yourself
Develop a hypothesis and a procedure to answer the last
question, using one spring, and 4 different weights
that will not stretch the spring to its elastic limit