Lab 6: Hooke’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion
Name Date
Assignment Submission Directions: Download this assignment sheet and complete by answering all
questions. You will need to access the simulations website in order to complete the labs. When completed,
save your work and upload the document to the Assignment Upload for graded submission. 50 points.
Items in red font require submission into a pre populated text box shown as Click here to enter text. (Note:
you do not need to fill this one in, for directions purposes only.)
Part A: Masses and Springs
Hang masses from springs and adjust the spring constant and damping. Transport the lab to different
planets, or slow down time. Observe the forces and energy in the system in real-time, and measure the
period using the stopwatch.
Learning Goals: Students will be able to
● Determine the factors which affect the period of oscillation
● Find the value of g on Planet X
● Design an experiment to determine the mass of an unknown object
● Describe the relationship between the velocity and acceleration vectors, and their relationship to
motion, at various points in the oscillation
● Explain how the free-body diagram of the mass changes throughout its oscillation
Load the simulation: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/masses-and-springs
Activity
Load simulation and select ‘Intro’
Place a 100 g mass on the first and the second springs.
Be sure springs hang at the same level.
Be sure NOT to push or stretch the strings.
Remove the mass from spring 2.
Increase the ‘spring constant’ to make it
larger (any value).
Replace the 100 g mass back on the second spring.
1. What happens when the stiffness (constant) of spring 2 is increased?
The spring experiences a lesser range of motion, resulting in decreased movement.
2. Remove the second mass, make the value small for Spring Constant 2, and place the mass back on. What
happens when the stiffness (constant) is decreased?
The range of motion is larger but the subsequent motion is slower.
, Lab 6: Hooke’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion
● Select ‘Energy’ by selecting at bottom.
● Set ‘Damping to ‘None’.
● Place the 100 g mass back on the
second spring.
● Press ‘Play’
3. Run the simulation and take screenshots of three spring positions (Highest Point, Mid Point, and
Lowest Point). Notice the graph output magnitudes of KE, PE grav, PEelastic, Etherm, Etotal in the Energy Graph.
Sample Outputs (Your outputs will have plots on them)
Highest Point Graph Output (Screenshot)
Name Date
Assignment Submission Directions: Download this assignment sheet and complete by answering all
questions. You will need to access the simulations website in order to complete the labs. When completed,
save your work and upload the document to the Assignment Upload for graded submission. 50 points.
Items in red font require submission into a pre populated text box shown as Click here to enter text. (Note:
you do not need to fill this one in, for directions purposes only.)
Part A: Masses and Springs
Hang masses from springs and adjust the spring constant and damping. Transport the lab to different
planets, or slow down time. Observe the forces and energy in the system in real-time, and measure the
period using the stopwatch.
Learning Goals: Students will be able to
● Determine the factors which affect the period of oscillation
● Find the value of g on Planet X
● Design an experiment to determine the mass of an unknown object
● Describe the relationship between the velocity and acceleration vectors, and their relationship to
motion, at various points in the oscillation
● Explain how the free-body diagram of the mass changes throughout its oscillation
Load the simulation: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/masses-and-springs
Activity
Load simulation and select ‘Intro’
Place a 100 g mass on the first and the second springs.
Be sure springs hang at the same level.
Be sure NOT to push or stretch the strings.
Remove the mass from spring 2.
Increase the ‘spring constant’ to make it
larger (any value).
Replace the 100 g mass back on the second spring.
1. What happens when the stiffness (constant) of spring 2 is increased?
The spring experiences a lesser range of motion, resulting in decreased movement.
2. Remove the second mass, make the value small for Spring Constant 2, and place the mass back on. What
happens when the stiffness (constant) is decreased?
The range of motion is larger but the subsequent motion is slower.
, Lab 6: Hooke’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion
● Select ‘Energy’ by selecting at bottom.
● Set ‘Damping to ‘None’.
● Place the 100 g mass back on the
second spring.
● Press ‘Play’
3. Run the simulation and take screenshots of three spring positions (Highest Point, Mid Point, and
Lowest Point). Notice the graph output magnitudes of KE, PE grav, PEelastic, Etherm, Etotal in the Energy Graph.
Sample Outputs (Your outputs will have plots on them)
Highest Point Graph Output (Screenshot)
