NUST

National University of
Sciences and Technology

Lab Report # 4
SHM & Newtons 2ND Law

Lab Instructors:
 Miss. Sillah Fatima
 Miss. Marwah
School: SMME Date: 27/09/2022
Semester: 1 Section: ME-14-B
Group: 4

Sr.no CMS ID Name

1 415991 Ali Mardan
2 428087 Mashood Ahmed
3 417648 Abdul Rafeh
4 417475 Muhammad Ghufran Aamir
5 408640 Hassaan Khakwani
6 428302 Malik Haseeb Ullah
 Abstract:
o Simple Harmonic Motion
The purpose is to measure the period of oscillation of a spring and mass system and compare it
to the theoretical value.

o Newton’s 2ND Law

The pascar is used to calculate acceleration in one dimension. Different weights will be attached
to the car using a thread, and the weight will be hung from a pulley to investigate the
gravitational acceleration caused by the different weights on the car. The weight will be left to
drop with the pascar placed at a specific point each time the experiment is repeated, which
means the distance travelled will be kept constant. The pascar will move forward, and the time
interval between when the weight is dropped and when the pascar hits the end will be taken.
Using these values, we will calculate the theoretical and experimental values of gravitational
acceleration and compare them. 

Apparatus:
 Track with Feet and End Stops
 Pascar 250 g also with its extra 2 masses of total weight of 500g
 Cart Masses
 Super Pulley with Clamp
 Harmonic Springs (2)
 Mass hanger and mass set
 Stopwatch
 Mass balance
 String
 Graph paper

Theory:
o Simple Harmonic Motion
For a mass attached to a spring, the theoretical period of oscillation is given by

T=2π√m/K
  Where T is the time for one complete back-and-forth motion
 m is the mass that is oscillating
 and k is the spring constant

According to Hooke’s Law, the force, F, exerted by the spring is proportional to the distance, x,
by which the spring is compressed or stretched:

F = kx
where k is the spring constant. Thus the spring constant can be experimentally determined by
applying different forces to stretch the spring different distances. If force is plotted versus
distance, the slope of the resulting straight line is equal to k.

o Newton’s 2ND Law

The force of gravity will act equally on the suspended mass and the pascar. According to
Newton’s second law, the force will produce a constant acceleration in the system.
F=Ma
F=mg
mg=Ma
a=mg/M
where,
 F is force of gravity on the system
 M is mass of whole system
 m is mass of suspended weights
 a is the theoretical value of gravitational acceleration
We also need to find the experimental value of gravitational acceleration. For that purpose
we use the formula:
aex=2d/t2
where,
 aex is experimental acceleration
 d is the constant distance travelled by the pascar
 t is the time interval between dropping the weights and the pascar stopping

Procedure:
 o Simple Harmonic Motion
 Measuring Spring Constant and Theoretical Period:
 Measure the mass of the cart and record it
 Install the feet on the track and level it
 Install the end stops about 1 m apart.
 Clamp the pulley at one end of the track
 Set the cart on the track and attach a spring to each end. Attach the other ends of the
springs to the end stops
 Tie a string to the lower attachment point of the cart. Run the string under one end stop
and over the pulley as shown in Figure 3.1. Attach the mass hanger to the other end of
the string. Adjust the pulley so that the string runs parallel to the track.
 Let the mass hang freely and wait for the cart to come to rest. Record the mass of the
hanger and the resting equilibrium position of the cart
 Add mass to the hanger. Record the hanging mass and the new equilibrium position of
the cart
 Repeat this for a total of 5 different masses, being careful not to over-stretch the
springs.
 Measuring the Experimental Period:
 Displace the cart from equilibrium and let it go. Time 5 oscillations and record the time
 Repeat this measurement at 5 times, using the same initial displacement.
 Add a 500 g mass to the cart and repeat steps 9 and 10.

o Newton’s 2ND Law

 Clearly mark a distance d which represents the constant distance travelled by the pascar
on each trial. Measure this distance and record it. 
 Record the mass of the pascar to be added into the suspended mass later. 
 Determine the masses that will be suspended from the pulley and change them after
each attempt. 
 After adding a mass to the pulley, hold the pascar at the marked distance d and release
the pascar. 
 Using a stopwatch, measure two time intervals, take their average t and record its
value. 
o (NOTE: To eliminate reaction time errors, it is very important to have the person
who launches the cart also be the timer!) 
 Repeat the process five times ignoring the less accurate attempts. 
 Record the values of five of the best attempts and make a table as shown in the data
analysis portion using formulas from the theory portion. 
 Data Analysis
o Simple Harmonic Motion
Theoretical Time Period
Without Mass
Sr.no Hanging Mass (g) Position Force

1. 0 47 (0) 0
2. 100 43 (4) 0.98
3. 150 41 (6) 1.47
4. 200 39 (8) 1.96
5. 240 37 (10) 2.35

T=2 π
√ m
k
=2 π
√0.25
24.5
=¿0.635s

With Mass
Sr.no Hanging Mass (g) Position Force

1. 0 47 (0) 0
2. 100 43 (4) 0.98
3. 150 41 (6) 1.47
4. 200 39 (8) 1.96
5. 240 37 (10) 2.35

T=2 π
√ m
k
=2 π
√0. 7 5
24.5
=¿1.01s

Graph
 force
2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

F 1.96−0.98
K= = =24 .5
x 0.43−0.39

Experimental Value
Without Mass With Mass

Sr no. T10 exp (sec) T1 exp (sec) T10 exp (sec) T1 exp (sec)
1. 6.1 0.61 10.7 1.07
2. 6.4 0.64 10.8 1.08
3. 6.2 0.62 10.6 1.06
4. 6.3 0.63 10.5 1.05
5. 6.5 0.65 10.3 1.03
Mean - 0.63 - 1.06

 Without Mass
0.635−0.63
%error= x100 = 0.79%
0.635

 With Mass
 1.06−1.01
%error= x100 = 4.95%
1.01

o Newton’s 2ND Law

Sr no. Hanging Mass (g) M (g) T1 (s) T2 (s) Tavg (s) m m
ath ( 2 ) aex ( 2 )
s s
1. 50 800 1.5 1.3 1.4 0.61 0.51
2. 100 850 0.92 0.85 0.89 1.15 1.26
3. 150 900 0.78 0.76 0.77 1.63 1.68
4. 170 920 0.73 0.71 0.72 1.81 1.92
5. 200 950 0.65 0.68 0.67 2.06 2.23
Mean - - - - - 1.45 1.52

M=Hanging Mass + 750 = 50 + 750 = 800

mg 50 x 9.8 m
ath= = =0.61 ( 2 )
M 800 s
2 d 2(0.5) m
aex = 2 = 2
=0.51( 2 )
t 1.4 s
d=0.5 m

1.52−1.45
%error= x100 = 4.83%
1.45

Results/Conclusion
o Simple Harmonic Motion
Since the propagation error with and without mass is 4.95% and 0.79% respectively
which is less than 15% error meaning the results about time period we came to are correct.

o Newton’s 2ND Law

Since the propagation error is 4.83% which is less than 15% error meaning the results
about acceleration of the car we came to are correct.
 Discussion
o Simple Harmonic Motion
1. Does the period of oscillation increase or decrease as mass increases? Does a more massive cart
oscillate faster or slower? 

 Period of oscillations increases as mass increases according to the equation: 

T=2π√(m/k) 
 A more massive cart oscillates slower as the period is increased so it will complete its
oscillation more slowly. 

2. If the initial position of displacement from equilibrium (the amplitude) is changed, does the
period of oscillation change? 
 Period of oscillation remains unchanged as it is independent of the amplitude of
oscillation.  
 More amplitude means the cart has to travel further, but it will also have more velocity
as the springs have higher elastic potential energy that gets converted into kinetic
energy. So the time period stays constant. 

o Newton’s 2ND Law

1. Did the results of this experiment explain that F=ma? 
 The results verify that F=ma, as it shows that acceleration is directly proportional to the
force applied on the object which would be of the mass suspended at the pulley. 
 This is verified by the fact that for more mass suspended, the value of acceleration is
higher. 
 The acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass of the pulley plus the hanging
mass. 
 Hence, a=F/m can be rearranged as F=ma. 

2. Why must the mass in F=ma include the hanging mass as well as the mass of the cart? 
Acceleration a is the acceleration of the whole system. Hence, the mass of the whole
system should be taken in the equation, which would be the mass of the cart plus the hanging
mass.