PHYS 0030: Oscillatory Motion

Sophie Pollack-Milgate

August 2020

1 Introduction

In this lab, you will explore oscillatory motion, first through using a phone as a bob in
a homemade pendulum and then through attaching the phone to a spring. As always,
innovation is encouraged.

2 Part I: Smartphone Pendulum

2.1 Basics of the Experiment

A simple pendulum displaced from equilibrium is acted upon by the following forces:

Figure 1: Pendulum force diagram

1
 Thus, the pendulum experiences a restoring torque τ = −mgLsinθ around an axis of
rotation that goes through the point on the string that is fixed and is perpendicular to the
page. For a small value of θ, sinθ can be approximated as θ, and so τ = −mgLθ. Since the
restoring torque is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium in this approximation,
the pendulum exhibits simple harmonic motion as it oscillates. The frequency f and the
period T of this motion are given by the equations
r
1 g
f= (1)
2π L
and s
L
T = 2π (2)
g

2.2 Plan and Procedure of the Experiment

In this section of the experiment, you will determine the period of the oscillation of a
pendulum in two ways: by plugging the length of the string into equation (2), and by
analyzing data that phyphox records from your phone’s gyroscope.

2.3 Materials

To construct a pendulum, you will need a smartphone, string (which can be substituted for
dental floss), two rulers, and a plastic bag.

2.4 Procedure

Put the phone in the plastic bag, and puncture two adjacent corners. Thread two equal
pieces of string through the puncture holes. Use pieces of string long enough that you can
wind them around the ruler different numbers of times to create pendulums with different
lengths of string. Next, attach one piece of string to each ruler:

Figure 2: Sample pendulum setup 1

2
 This setup will ensure that, as the phone swings, it will only move along one of its axes;
you can also use any alternate setup that will stabilize the pendulum. Measure the length of
the string you are using, and record it in the table in the ”data” section of the experiment
guide. Next, use phyphox to look at data from the phone’s gyroscope, which you can access
under the “raw sensors” tab on the app by tapping on “gyroscope (rotation rate).” Set up
the pendulum so that the phone can swing freely along one axis:

Figure 3: Sample pendulum setup 2

Hit the play button. Displace the pendulum by a small angle from equilibrium (θ ≤ 5◦ ),
and release it so it begins to swing. Look at the gyroscope graph along the appropriate axis:

3
 Figure 4: Sample gyroscope data

From the graph, you can determine the period T of oscillation of the pendulum by
counting the number n of complete oscillations that occur in a time t:

t
T = (3)
n

Repeat the experiment with two different lengths of string and two masses for each length
– one of the masses can just be the phone, and the other can come from another object
of known mass you put in the plastic bag. Next, examine the validity of the small-angle
approximation used when finding a formula for T by repeating the previous measurements
for larger displacements (30◦ ≤ θ ≤ 45◦ ).

2.5 Data

Fill out the data tables below. You may want to reference the calculations section of the
experiment guide before filling out the bottom three rows.

4
 Small θ (< 5◦ )
Length of string: m Length of string: m
Mass in bag
(kg)
t (s)
n
Experimental
T (s)
Theoretical
T (s)
Percentage
error in T

Large θ (> 30◦ )

2.6 Calculations

Calculate the period of oscillation of the pendulum according to your graphic data, and
then use equation (2) to calculate the theoretical period of the pendulum given both lengths
of string. Determine the uncertainty of your results, and calculate the percentage error in
your period calculation.

2.7 Discussion

1. Compare the values of T that you determined theoretically and experimentally.

2. Discuss the effects that changing the mass of the bob and the length of the string had
on your results. Do these effects conform to expectations?

3. How did changing the amplitude of the oscillation (i.e., releasing the pendulum from
a large angle) influence the period? Mention the percent difference in T that occurred as a

5
result for one of the string lengths and masses.

3 Part II: Springs

3.1 Basics of the Experiment

When a weight hangs from a spring, the restoring force of the stretched spring is balanced
by the weight F = mg. In a Hooke’s law spring, the restoring force F increases linearly
with displacement ∆x from equilibrium. This displacement is equal to the length xf of the
stretched spring minus the length xi of the unstretched spring. In other words,

F = k(xf − xi ) = k∆x (4)

where k is the spring constant, a measure of the spring’s stiffness. Therefore, in the case
of a spring that obeys Hooke’s law,
mg
k= (5)
∆x
When the springq is displaced from equilibrium and allowed to oscillate, its angular velocity
k
ω (defined as m) and the period T of its motion can be related by the equation
r
2π m
T = = 2π (6)
ω k

3.2 Plan and Procedure of the Experiment

In the second part of the experiment, you will determine the value of k for a spring before
examining the period of its oscillation.

3.3 Materials

For this part of the experiment, you will need a smartphone, a plastic bag, a ruler, a paper
clip, and a spring. You can get a spring by disassembling a pen, or by using a slinky. If
you do not have a spring, then you can use a rubber band as a substitute: rubber bands
roughly obey Hooke’s law as long as they are not stretched more than twice their length,
and a thicker rubber band is better.

3.4 Procedure

Measure the length of the spring or rubber band. Put the phone in the bag, and attach the
bag to the spring with the paper clip:

6
 Figure 5: Sample setup with rubber band

Measure the length of the spring in its new equilibrium position, and record your mea-
surements in the table in the ”data” section of the experiment guide. Keeping in mind
that you can find the mass of your phone online, you should have the information you need
to use equation (4) to find the value of the spring constant. Repeat this procedure three
times, placing any other object of known mass in the bag along with the phone. Next,
begin recording ”acceleration (without g)” data in phyphox. Displace the spring a known
distance from equilibrium, and determine the period of its oscillation using the phyphox
graph. Repeat this procedure using two different initial displacements from equilibrium, as
well as two different amounts of known mass in the bag.

3.5 Data

First, fill out the following data table so that you can use equation (4) to find the value of
k for your spring:

m (kg) xi (m) xf (m) ∆x (m) k (N/m) Predicted

7
 Then, fill out another data table with data you collect about the period of oscillation
given different initial displacements and masses:

Initial displacement: m Initial displacement: m

3.6 Calculations

Use equation (4) to find the value of k for your spring and equation (5) to determine
its predicted period; average this value over three tests. In addition, use equation (3) to
determine the value of the period according to data on the phyphox graph. Obtain an
average value for the measured period, along with its standard error. Compare the values
of the period that you measured and predicted.

3.7 Discussion

1. Discuss the effects of changing the mass on the spring and its initial displacement
from equilibrium on the period of its oscillation. Do these results conform to expectations?

2. Based on the standard error you calculated for the measured period, discuss the
agreement between the predicted and the measured periods. What systematic uncertainties
might have affected the results?

3.8 References

Freedman, Ruskell, Kestin and Tauc, College Physics, 2nd edition, Chapter 12 Oscillations.