{"id":813,"date":"2019-01-17T21:24:02","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T21:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrsphysics.co.uk\/advanced\/?p=813"},"modified":"2025-11-25T07:37:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T07:37:55","slug":"shm-practicals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/17\/shm-practicals\/","title":{"rendered":"SHM Practicals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AH today were working in 3 groups to research via practicals and notes about SHM. The task is given below. Well done to Morford and Hodgson who created the following from their practical, with very little assistance. Their results were so good I thought I&#8217;d share them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p> Mr Morford wrote<br>&#8220;These graphs are from our recent experiment to determine the effect of damping on an oscillating mass. A mass was hung from a spring over an Alba Ranger ultrasound device. We then analysed our measurements using excel and graphed our results to find the decay due to damping.&#8221; <\/p><cite>Morford &amp; Hodgson (2019)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM.png 791w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-768x502.png 768w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-600x392.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><figcaption>Check out the great phase lag and the obvious proof of SHM showing a is proportional to -ky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"515\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping.png 792w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-768x499.png 768w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-600x390.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><figcaption>The period isn&#8217;t  constant because the spring started moving with horizontal motion but the amplitude certainly deteriorated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"785\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-equation.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-equation.png 785w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-equation-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-equation-768x500.png 768w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Damping-equation-600x391.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 785px) 100vw, 785px\" \/><figcaption>I&#8217;ll need to check this&#8230;.but it looks good!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was the task for the class and my thanks to the IoP for their Practical Physics lessons and to the other places referenced for some great practical techniques. I will neaten this post later, but I promised Morford and Hodgson that I would post tonight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hopefully I can collate the rest of the groups information soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-Results.xlsx\">SHM Results<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-Results.xlsx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-practical.docx\">SHM practical<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SHM-practical.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the end of the lesson you should&#8230;&#8230; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You to have the spring constant for two of the springs by two different methods. <\/li><li>A graph of <em>d<\/em> against <em>t<\/em>, <em>v<\/em> against <em>t<\/em>, and <em>a<\/em> against <em>t<\/em><\/li><li>A value of the period of spring for various masses <\/li><li>Discovered the effect of amplitude on the period Found the effect of damping (so find out what that is)  <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webassign.net\/question_assets\/ncsucalcphysmechl3\/lab_7_1\/manual.html\">https:\/\/www.webassign.net\/question_assets\/ncsucalcphysmechl3\/lab_7_1\/manual.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birmingham.ac.uk\/undergraduate\/preparing-for-university\/stem\/Physics\/stem-legacy-SHM.aspx\">https:\/\/www.birmingham.ac.uk\/undergraduate\/preparing-for-university\/stem\/Physics\/stem-legacy-SHM.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyberphysics.co.uk\/topics\/shm\/springs.htm\">https:\/\/www.cyberphysics.co.uk\/topics\/shm\/springs.htm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/practicalphysics.org\/investigating-mass-spring-oscillator.html\">http:\/\/practicalphysics.org\/investigating-mass-spring-oscillator.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite Covid-19 the intrepid AH students have been showing damping with a pendulum bob and tracker. The original movie has still to be analysed by our friends from Annan<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Tracker-Slightly-damped-1024x698.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Tracker-Slightly-damped-1024x698.png 1024w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Tracker-Slightly-damped-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Tracker-Slightly-damped-768x524.png 768w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Tracker-Slightly-damped-600x409.png 600w, https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Tracker-Slightly-damped.png 1258w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>This is Courault and Douglas with bob skimming the water and you can see some damping on the graph. Note the period remains constant but the amplitude, and hence energy is reduced. Well done Courault and Douglas, imortalised in your tracker movie!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1024x819.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1067\"\/><figcaption>This is Patterson and Pritchards attempt with bob fully immersed as it goes through its swing. You can see bob is far more damped! I think Pritchard was a little lazy with his identification of the edge of bob as that period is definitely changing! Compare this damping with the previous one. Well done to both of you!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now if we can add Atwal, Burns, Carson and Morrin&#8217;s tracker we can have a full set for 2020 and you can look back with fondness at your time in AH, despite all the distancing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investigating a mass-on-spring\noscillator<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Demonstration<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A mass suspended on a spring\nwill oscillate after being displaced. The period of oscillation is affected by\nthe amount of mass and the stiffness of the spring. This experiment allows the\nperiod, displacement, velocity and acceleration to be investigated by\ndatalogging the output from a motion sensor. It is an example of simple\nharmonic motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Analysis<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><em>Measurement of period<\/em>&nbsp;<br> <em>Period and Amplitude<\/em> Observe that the period appears to be independent of amplitude.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <em>Effect of mass<\/em>&nbsp;<br>A straight line is the usual result, showing that the period squared is proportional to the mass.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br><em>Velocity and acceleration<\/em>&nbsp;<br> A plot of the resulting data shows a &#8216;velocity vs. time&#8217; graph. Note that the new graph is also sinusoidal. However, compared with the &#8216;distance vs. time&#8217; graph, there is a phase difference &#8211; the velocity is a maximum when the displacement is zero, and vice versa.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> A similar gradient calculation based on the &#8216;velocity vs. time&#8217; graph yields an &#8216;acceleration vs. time&#8217; graph. Comparing this with the original &#8216;distance vs. time&#8217; graph shows a phase difference of 180\u00b0. This indicates that the acceleration is always opposite in direction to the displacement.&nbsp;Teaching notes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Aim<\/strong>: To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aim: To find the effect of damping on an oscillating spring<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aim: To find the effect of mass on an oscillating spring<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aim: To use the formula for an oscillating spring to find <em>m<\/em> or <em>k<\/em> etc<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e1515b0c027eaeaaa7232dae92981146?s=80\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mrsphysics.co.uk\/bge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Signature-300x54.png\" alt=\"Signature\" class=\"wp-image-172\" width=\"269\" height=\"48\"\/><figcaption>December 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The AH today were working in 3 groups to research via practicals and notes about SHM. The task is given below. Well done to Morford and Hodgson who created the following from their practical, with very little assistance. Their results were so good I thought I&#8217;d share them. Mr Morford wrote&#8220;These graphs are from our&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[782],"tags":[779,840,841,842,843,70,103,117,844,845,846,84,847],"ppma_author":[1267],"class_list":["post-813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quantaandwaves","tag-ah","tag-hodgson","tag-morford","tag-oscillations","tag-oscillator","tag-physics","tag-practical","tag-practicals","tag-shm","tag-spring","tag-spring-constant","tag-sqa","tag-student","vs-blog blog-single wow fadeInUp"],"acf":[],"authors":[{"term_id":1267,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"n5","display_name":"Mrs Physics","avatar_url":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/OK-scaled.png","author_category":"","first_name":"Mrs","last_name":"Physics","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=813"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8297,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813\/revisions\/8297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=813"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mrsphysics.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}