7.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

FREE AND DAMPED OSCILLATION

Comparison between experimental and theoretical results
FREQUENCIES OF DAMPED OSCILLATIONS
Results
Theoretical
frequency, d in Hz
Period in s
Frequency, f in Hz
0.18
5.56
22.36
0.30
3.33
22.35
0.20
5.00
22.29

Experiment
no.
1
2
3

Sample Calculation for Experiment 1:

Experimental Frequency:
1 cm = 1s for speed of 1 cm/s
Period, T

= 0.18 cm
= 0.18 s

Frequency, d =
Theoretical Frequency:
Natural Frequency,

Damped Frequency,

The percentage error for all the experiments is tabulated as follow:

Experiment
1
2
3

Percentage Error
75.13 %
85.10 %
77.57 %

Result Analysis:
By referring to the data and results collected from the experiment, we can observe the
relationship between the lever arm (b) of the cantilever beam and the damped frequency (d) for
the oscillation. From the observation, the spring is attached at a distance from the fixed mount;
the lower the lever arm or the further the damper is away from the spring, the higher the damped
frequency. This is due to the decrease in degree of damping or damping ratio which increase the
amplitude when time goes on. We can conclude that damping effect is better when the damper
and spring are closer and vice versa.
FREE AND UNDAMPED OSCILLATION
Comparison between experimental and theoretical results
Frequencies of undamped oscillations
Results
Period in s
Frequency, f in Hz
5.00
0.20
0.20
5.00
5.00
0.20
0.20
5.00
3.57
0.28

Experiment
no.
1
2
3
4
5

Sample Calculation for Experiment 1:

Experimental Frequency:
1 cm = 1s for speed of 1 cm/s
Period, T

= 0.20 cm
= 0.20 s

Frequency, d =
Theoretical Frequency:

Theoretical
frequency, f in Hz
5.49
4.22
5.53
3.32
4.89

Frequency,

The percentage error for all the experiments is tabulated as follow:

Experiment
1
2
3
4
5

Percentage Error
8.93 %
18.48 %
9.58 %
50.60 %
26.99 %

Result Analysis:
By referring to the data and results collected from the experiment, we can observe the
relationship between the lever arm (a) of cantilever beam, the spring constant (b) of the springs
and the natural frequency (f) of the oscillation. We observe that when a spring with a higher
spring constant is applied, the natural frequency of the oscillation will also be increased due to a
stiffer spring will result in faster oscillation and smaller period (T) hence leads to a higher
frequency (f). However, when the lever arms increase, the resultant oscillations will also increase
the natural frequency. When the spring is mounted further away from the fixed point, the beam
oscillates faster with higher natural frequency.
From the displacement graphs, we can observe that the amplitude of oscillation almost
remains constant and this is similar to the type of vibration being analyzed as free and undamped
system. There is no damper to dissipate the energy from the system.