Advanced Physics Jem Van Tyn, Sage Davis Pendulum and Spring Lab
IntroductionFor this lab, we were to determine the amount of energy introduced into the system and the rate of energy lost. We also had to determine the spring constant of various elastomers as well as determine the period of oscillation for several elastomers/springs, and weight combination. We were to do this by taking a spring, line of rubber bands, and a pendulum and tie them to the ceiling. We then place weights at the ends of these and test for the amount of energy to pull the spring down or the pendulum back, the rate of energy lost, the spring constant of both the spring and rubber bands, and the period of oscillation (The movement back and forth or up and down at a regular speed). Results The loss of energy for the spring and pendulum systems were not linear because there were many factors causing it not to be perfect. Those factors could be the angle at which you pull any of the elastomers or pendulum such as if it is not perfectly vertical, or of you have the pendulum at a slight angle making it hit the recording device. Also the bounce when the weight hits the top of its bounce. This can cause it not to be linear. If it was linear, the pull and release would be perfect as well as the amount of drag forces on the weight. The loss of energy for each system would be the drag caused by the paper on the bottom or the weight itself as well as the spring absorbing some of the energy also the air absorbing some of that energy. The constant for the spring elastomer is 1.2307 and the constant for the rubber band is 1.58144. Conclusion The energy that is lost from the spring is the energy creating a very small amount of heat in the spring and the air absorbing some of it through the friction. The energy lost from the pendulum is the energy that is absorbed by the air friction and heat in the string.