DEN 108

Dynamics
Laboratory Report
Dynamics

Nusrath
4/29/2010
Contents
Contents..................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction.......................................................................................................... 3
Background and Theory.......................................................................................3
Apparatus.............................................................................................................4
Experimental procedure.......................................................................................5
Results.................................................................................................................6
Calculations..........................................................................................................7
Discussion............................................................................................................ 9
Conclusion............................................................................................................ 9
References...........................................................................................................9
Introduction

The aim of this experiment is to measure the natural frequencies of different

types of oscillating systems. These are: Rotary swinging pulley, the pulley
pendulum and pulley-load-spring system.
The frequency of the oscillations can be determined by finding the time
taken for the number of oscillations, and then the theoretical frequency can
be found. Therefore, we can compare the frequency of oscillations found
from the experiment against the theoretical.

Background and Theory

The oscillating system will vibrate in an equilibrium position if it is displaced by a certain
distance. For example, a swinging pendulum will return to its original position due to the tension
in the string and the force of gravity. Therefore, the oscillating system will experience a force
which is dependent on the displacement from the equilibrium position.
The frequency is the number of oscillations per second.
f=1/T

This is the equation that will be used to calculate the frequency from the laboratory experiment.
The natural frequency of free vibration of the assembled system is given by:

f1 =

Where k is the spring stiffness

m1 is the mass of the pulley
m2 is the mass of the stirrup
m3 is the mass of the spring
m4 is the mass of the body
Ic is the moment of inertia of the pulley about its axis of rotation
r is the effective radius of the pulley

When a body is simply suspended from a spring, the natural frequency of free vibration is given
by:

f2=

In the bifilar suspension the two light cords of length, L, are separated throughout by 2a. For
small rotary displacement of the suspended body (the pulley), the natural frequency of free
vibration is given by:

f3=

Where a is half the length from one pin to the other

L is the length of the string from the ceiling
Apparatus
• Stop watch

• Light string

• Weighing machine

• Pulley

• Stirrup

• Spring

• Body

Fig 1.1 Apparatus to measure

natural frequency of the complete
pulley-load-spring system

Fig 1.2 Apparatus to measure

natural frequency of Rotary
swinging pulley
d Experimental procedure
Preliminary measurements

Using the balance the masses (m1, m2, m3 and m4) were measured. The smallest
degree of accuracy was 1 gram.
The radius of the pulley was measured from the centre line of the cord.

Measuring the spring constant, k

The apparatus was setup in order to collect data for measuring the spring constant.
The body was setup in order to oscillated up and down (vertically) by hand this was
done by pulley the body down and then releasing the body. Using a stop watch the
time taken for 20 oscillations were recorded from spring release, this was used to
calculate one oscillation (to reduce errors). This procedure was repeated three
times to calculate the average.

Measuring the second moment of inertia of the pulley, Ic

The apparatus was shown in figure 1.2. The distance 2a and L were measured,
using a measuring tape. The pulley was twisted and then was released to oscillate
in the horizontal axis. Using a stop watch the time taken for 20 oscillations were
recorded from pulley release, this was used to calculate one oscillation (to reduce
errors). This procedure was repeated three times to calculate the average.

Measuring the natural frequency of the complete spring-mass-pulley

system

The apparatus was setup as shown in figure 1.1. The body was carefully setup in
order to move vertically up and down oscillation by hand, this was done by pulling
the body down and then releasing. Using a stop watch the time taken for 20
oscillations were recorded from spring release, this was used to calculate one
oscillation (to reduce errors). This procedure was repeated three times to calculate
the average.
Results
k = ? (Find out using equation f2)
m1 = 0.23kg
m2 = 0.055kg
m3 = 0.002kg
m4 = 0.35kg
Ic = ? (Find out using equation f3)
r = 0.075m
a= = 0.0705m
L = 2.13m

Time of 20 oscillations

Mass and spring: 8.12s

7.02s Average Time =
7.14s

Pulley and string: 41.80s

42.02s Average Time =

41.92s

Pulley, mass and spring: 16.41s

16.62s Average Time =

16.73s

Therefore, the time for one oscillation is:

Mass and spring: Time = = 0.3715s

Pulley and string: Time = = 2.0955s

Pulley, mass and spring: Time = = 0.8295s

Calculations
Frequency of one oscillation

Mass and spring: f2 = = 2.6918 Hz

Pulley and string: f3 = = 0.4772 Hz

Pulley, mass and spring: f1 = = 1.2055 Hz

Finding k using equation f 2 :

f2=

Substituting the values into f2:

2.6918 =

k = 100.31 N/m

Finding Ic using f 3 :

f3=

Substituting the values into f3:

0.4772 =

Ic = 5.849 kg m2

Finding f 1 using the equation:

f1 =
Substituting the values into f1:

f1 =

f1 = 1.1953 Hz

Error percentage:
Discussion

Throughout the experiment one of the large source of uncertainty probably

lies in number of readings, for example, the weighing balance scale was not the
most accurate. The minimum counter weight was one gram. Therefore, there could
have been slight errors in the mass readings. This concludes an error of +/-
0.0005kg in the masses. This will have an effect on the frequencies.
For calculating the spring constant, while doing the experiment a lot of
care was taken. Firstly, for all the readings the initial positions were the same.
Secondly, each experiment was recorded three times and averaged to improve the
accuracy of the results. While calculating the oscillation time human error (human
response starting and stopping the stop watch and the oscillations of the initial and
final positions).
It was difficult to make the suspension cord to be the same length as the
rotational pulley. It was also difficult to make the pulley exactly horizontal; this was
due to the rotational oscillation for not being completely planar (pulley quivered
slightly).
In order to reduce multi-nodal effect care was taken for the oscillation of
load-pulley system. This was done to maintain vertical oscillation. Each experiment
was recorded three times and averaged to improve the accuracy of the results.

Conclusion

The experiment successfully met the aim which was to determine the experimental
frequency compared to the theoretical frequency. The experimental frequency was
calculated 1.2058 and the theoretical frequency was 1.1953. It is clearly showing
that the values are close to each other. It was concluded that the theoretical simple
harmonic motion model were idealistic for this experiment (did not take energy loss
and damping effects into account). There were minimal impact errors in the
measurements of length and mass while calculating values of experimental
frequency. The value obtained from the experimental frequency is more accurate
compared to the theoretical frequency as experimental is a real-life situation.

References

• Hibbler, R.C. (2010). Engineering Mechanics Dynamics: SI Version, 12th ed.

USA

• Meriam, J.L. (2003). Engineering Mechanics-Dynamics: SI Version, 5th ed. New

York: Wiley.
• Briggs, A. (2009), Elementary Vibrations Lab Handout, DEN108 Module,
Queen Mary University London

• Briggs, A. (2009), DEN108 Course Notes, DEN108 Module, Queen Mary

University London