[Virginia Tech Department of Physics]

Lecture Demonstrations

Mechanics
   

M81: Simple Harmonic Motion Using an Air Track

 

Purpose: To provide a quantitative demonstration of simple harmonic motion.

Description:

 

Two-meter air track, cart with springs attached to both ends of the track, ultrasonic motion detector, computer with PascoScienceWorkshop 750 interface and DataStudio software, meter stick.

Start the DataStudio software by down loading the file "m81-1.ds" and save it a location on the computer you are using.. The file provides a starting window setup (see the photo) that can be modified. Set the cart into oscillation and click start. The resulting curves of position, velocity, and acceleration give a qualitative description of SHM, and demonstrate the phase differences.

Quantitative: Remove a spring, hang a known mass from it and calculate the spring constant by the distance the mass stretches the spring. The mass of the cart and flag (no weights attached) is 0.212 kg; the optional riders are 50 g each. Calculate the expected period of the motion (remembering that the effective spring constant is twice that for one spring). With the kinematic graphs displayed, (Advance practice with the software is strongly encouraged.)

 
Equipment List: Storage Location: CHEMP 130A

 

Air Track F4.3
  Air Blower Lecture Table 2
  Various Carts and Springs F4.3
  Ultrasonic Motion Detector D1.4

References:

Manual: None   Setup Notes: M81 PIRA #: 3A20.30
Manufacturer(s): Pasco Other school's Demonstration web pages

A/V

E&M

[HOME] Virginia Tech Physics

[PREV] Lecture Demo List