Determination of natural frequency (f)

Table 6.2: Result of experiment to find out the natural frequency (f).

no.

1
2
3
4
5
6

mass
(kg)
0
2
4
6
8
10

total
mass
(kg)
1.25
3.25
5.25
7.25
9.25
11.25

Length for
5
oscillation
(mm)
20
30
38
44
50
55

Period

Frequency

Frequency

Percenta

Time,

(Experiment

(Theoretic

ge Error

T (s)

al) , (Hz)

al) , (Hz)

(%)

0.17
0.28
0.36
0.42
0.47
0.52

5.00
3.33
2.63
2.27
2.00
1.81

5.887
3.651
2.872
2.444
2.164
1.962

15.07
8.8
8.43
7.12
7.58
7.75

Sample calculation
From the additional mass added (in kg), we need to first find the force
(weight) produced by each additional load which means we need to,
Weight = mass x gravitational acceleration

Example
Weight = 2 kg x 9.81 m.s-2 = 19.62 N
Next, for the time taken for 5 cycles of the system, we attained from the
curve plotted by the mechanical recorder is in x (mm), to find the natural
frequency of the system in both rad/s (w n) and cycles/s (fn), we use the
k
formula
2 f =wn =
m

The theoretical value of spring constant, k, is equal to 1710 N/m

Thus, to get period, T
T=

1
f

Example for experimental value

From the additional mass added (in kg), we need to first find the force (weight)
produced by each additional load which means we need to,
Weight=mass x gravitational acceleration
Example
Weight=2 kg x 9.81 m.s-2 = 19.62 N

Next, for the time taken for 5 cycles of the system, we attained from the curve plotted
by the mechanical recorder is in x (mm), since the mechanical recorder rotates the
graph paper by 20 mm/s, then to obtain the time taken for 5 complete cycles, t (s),
t=

x
20 mm . s1

Thus, to get period, T,

T=

t
5

Where, we then can calculate for frequency of spring-mass system, f,

f=

Example
t=

20
20 mm . s1

= 1.0 s
T=

1.0
5

= 0.2 s
f=

1
0.2

= 5.00 Hz
Example for theoretical value
2 f =wn =

w n=

k
m

k
m

*Where k = 1710 N/m

w n=

1710
1.25

w n=36.98 6

1
T

f=

wn
2

f=

36.986
2

f =5.887 H z

Percentage Error
Natural Frequency, f
The percentage error, % = | ftheoretical fexperimental | 100%
ftheoretical
= | 5.887 5.000 | 100%
5.887
= 15.0671 %

Spring constant, k

|k theoretical k experimental|
The percentage error, % =
100
k theoretical

|171016 3 5|
1710

= 4.39%

100

8.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that the experimental values of spring constant, k
(N/m) is slightly different with the theoretical values. From the graph of Force
(N) against extension of the spring (mm), we found that the values of slope is
equal to the values of the spring constant by using the formula F=ks. The
theoretical values of the spring constant is 1710 N/m while the experimental
values of the spring constant is 1635 N/m. The values of the experimental
and the theoretical slightly different due to the error that exist during
conducted this experiment. The percentage error, % between the values of
the experimental and theoretical is 4.39%.

In this experiment, the weight of frame is 1.25 kg. From the experiment, the
values of the experimental frequency (Hz) for mass 1.25, 3.25, 5.25, 7.25,
9.25, and 11.25 is 5.00, 3.33, 2.63, 2.27, 2.00, and 1.81 respectively. For the
theoretical values of normal frequency, f for mass 1.25, 3.25, 5.25, 7.25,
9.25, and 11.25 is 5.887, 3.561, 2.872, 2.444, 2.164, and 1.962. The values
of the experimental and the theoretical a little bit different due to the error
that exist during conducted this experiment. The percentage error, %
between the values of the experimental and theoretical is 15.07, 8.8, 8.43,
7.12, 7.58 and 7.75 respectively.

To improve the experiment result, Student should carefully put the additional
weight during the experiment procedure as it would disturb the graph
plotted. Besides, the pen/pencil should be put in properly tight to the hole in
front of graph paper so that it will not harm the paper or if it too loose, it will
slightly moving and disturbing the graph plotting. Moreover, the age of the
spring very influence in the experiment results. The spring may not as elastic
as stated by theoretical. Where, theoretical may represent the early state of
spring where it is softer and more elastic. Otherwise, the spring is not
actually homogenous during the deformation. After all, k theoretical is
calculated based on the parameters where the spring is assumed to be
homogenous during deformation as well the cross-section is uniform
throughout the length of spring.