UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

__________________________________________________________________________
Program : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical (EM220/EM221)

Course : Applied Mechanics Lab

Code : MEC 424

Lecturer :

Group :

MEC 424 - LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE : Free Vibration Experiment – Natural Frequency of Spring Mass
System without Damping

No NAME STUDENT ID SIGNATURE

1 MOHAMAD KAMARUL AZIEHAN BIN MAT YATIM 2017806416
2 MOHAMAD FAREEZ FIRDHAUS BIN ROSLAN 2017665814
3 MOHD NASTAIN BIN SEMAIL 2017665774
4 AFANDI BIN A.AZIZ 2017806534
5 MOHAMAD ASYRAF BIN ARAS 2016218376

LABORATORY SESSION :
(DATE)

REPORT SUBMISSION :
(DATE)
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Marking Scheme

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Abstract

In dynamics, the value of spring constant and natural frequency of the spring can be
determined by Free Vibration Experiment. A chart paper and a plotter pen which fit into the
slot were used to determine the spring constant. The weight was removed from the carriage
and the plotter pen was set at 20mm line on the chart of paper by using the adjuster to set the
carriage. The spring was loaded by adding a load of mass 2kg each. By adding the load, a
vertical line was drawn on the chart paper which resembles its extension. The recorder was
pressed after the load added until reach its maximum load of 10kg. For natural frequency, all
loads were removed from the carriage and the chart paper was extended by using the recorder
to differentiate its data from spring constant data. The chosen additional was added and
secured with a nut and the adjuster were used to set the height of carriage so that the ball pen
is centered on the chart paper at 50mm. The carriage and the recorder start simultaneously.
The process was repeated by adding additional load. The data for spring constant and natural
frequency was used into the formula based on the theory section to be calculated and the
value of spring constant (K) obtained from the experiment was. As a conclusion, the
experiment was done successfully conducted as all data obtained were able to achieve the
objective of this experiment to determine the spring constant and natural frequency of the
spring.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

ABSTRACT 2
TABLE OF CONTENT 3
LIST OF FIGURE 4
LIST OF TABLE 5
INTRODUCTION 6
THEORY 7-8
PROCEDURE 9-10
RESULT 11-15
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

3
List of figure

FIGURE DETAIL PAGE

FIGURE 1 SPRING CONSTANT 6
FIGURE 2 GRAPH PAPER AND PLOTTER PEN 8
FIGURE 3 LOAD PLACES ON CARRIAGE 8
FIGURE 4 RECRDER 8
FIGURE 5 VIBRATION GRAPH PLOTTED 8
FIGURE 6 GRAPH PAPER AND PLOTTER PEN 9
FIGURE 7 TEST FOR FREE LOAD 9
FIGURE 8 2N LOADS 9
FIGURE 9 GRAPH LOAD AGAINTS EXTENSION 10

4
List of table

TABLE DETAIL PAGE

TABLE 1 SPRING CONSTANT, k 11
TABLE 2 NATURAL FREQUENCY, f 13
TABLE 3 PERCENTAGE ERROR 15

5
Introduction

Free vibration takes place when a system oscillates under the action of forces inherent in the
system itself due to initial disturbance and when external applied force are absent. The system
will oscillate about its static equilibrium positions. There are two type of systems which are
discrete system and continuous system. In discrete system, the physical properties are discrete
quantities and the system behaviour was described by ordinary differential equations. This
system has finite number of degrees of freedom while in continuous system, the physical
properties are function of spatial coordinate and the system behaviour was described by
partial differential equations and has infinite number of degrees of freedom. Furthermore, a
system can be considered as discrete in which the whole mass of system is lumped at some
points in case of continuous system the mass is distributed over the entire length of the
system. The degree of freedom is governed by coupled differential equations and has natural
frequencies. Hence, the discrete system has finite system of natural frequencies and the
continuous system has infinite number of natural frequencies. The system will vibrate once or
more of its natural frequencies when under free vibration which are properties of the
dynamical system established by its mass and its stiffness distribution.

6
Theory

A vibration is the periodic motion of the body or system of connected bodies displaced from a
position of equilibrium. The simplest type of vibrating motion is undamped free vibration as
shown in the figure 1.

Figure 1

The spring stiffness can be determined by using Hooke’s Law. An object with elastic property
will deform by compression or tension when a force applied on it. The Hooke’s law states that
the displacement of the deformation is directly proportional to the deforming force. Hence,
when a force applied toward the spring, the force exerted proportional to the displacement of
the spring from equilibrium. In mathematical form:

F=kx

Where, F= force exerted on spring (N)

K= spring constant or stiffness of spring (N/m)

X = displacement of the spring from equilibrium (m)

The natural frequency can be determined when the block is equilibrium, the spring exerted an
upward force of F=W=mg on the block. Hence, the block is displaced downwards from the
initial position, the magnitude of the spring force becomes

yF=W + ky

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Applying equation motion gives:

∑ 𝑭 = 𝒎𝒚̈ (Equation 1)

Hence,

-W- ky + W = my

-ky = my (Equation 2)

Since the acceleration of the block’s displacement, the motion can be also described in simple
harmonic motion.

Rearranging in terms into ‘standard form’ given

𝒚̈ + 𝒘𝟐 = 𝟎 (Equation 3)

Substitute equation 2 to 3 ,then:

Natural frequency of the system given by:

𝒌
W = √𝒎 = 𝟐𝝅𝒇 (Natural Frequency)

8
Experimental procedure

Procedure 1 : Determine the spring constant K.

1. The graph paper and plotter pen was set into the slot.

Figure 2

2. The adjuster is used to set the carriage such that plotter pen is on 20mm on the graph
paper.
3. The loads is place on the carriage sequentially by load spring.

Figure 3
4. The recorder is start and end for after each weight is added sequentially.

Figure 4

5. The stepped curve is obtained and recorded.

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 Figure 5

Procedure 2: To determine natural frequency

1. The plotter pen and graph paper is fitted.

Figure 6
2. The additional mass is attached and secure with knurled nut.
3. The adjuster is used to set the height of carriage such that stylus is 50mm on the graph
paper.
4. The record is started for weight of carriage.
5. The carriage is deflected downwards by hand and allow it to oscillate freely until 6
cycle.

Figure 7
6. The recorder is stopped.
7. The experiment is repeated with other additional loads.

Figure 8
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Result
Spring constant, k

Theoretical Spring Constant, k = 1.7 N/mm

Mass (kg) Load (N) Deflection (mm) Extension (mm) Spring Constant, k
(-20) (N/mm)
2 19.62 32 12 1.635
4 39.24 43 23 1.706
6 58.86 54 34 1.731
8 78.48 65 45 1.744
10 98.10 76 56 1.752

Table 1

( 1.635+1.706+1.731+1.744+1.752 )
Average spring constant, k =
5
= 1.7135 N/mm
= 1713.5 N/m

Load (N) vs Extension (mm)

120
y = 1.7604x - 0.8275
100

80
Load (N)

60
Load (N) vs
Extension
40
(mm)
20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
-20
Extension (mm)

Figure 9

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Based on the graph, we have obtained the slope which represent the spring constant, k is
k=1.7604 N/mm. From theoretical, the spring constant is k=1.7 N/mm which is nearly to the
experimental value that we gain from the experiment.

Sample calculation

1. Deflection
The deflection (mm) data obtained from experiment.

Extansion (mm) = Deflection obtained – initial deflection

= 43 – 20
= 23 mm

2. Spring Constant, k
Using Newton Second’s Law:

Force, F = mg
= (4kg)(9.81m𝑠 −1 )
= 39.24 N

Experimental spring constant, k

𝐹
k=
𝑥
(39.24 𝑁)
=
(23 𝑚𝑚)
= 1.706 N/mm

3. Percentage error of spring constant value

𝑘 (𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 )−𝑘 (𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙)

% Error =
𝑘 (𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙)
1.7−1.635
=
1.7
= 3.82 %

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Natural Frequency (W)
1. Mass of carriage is 1.250 kg
2. Recorded speed is 20 mm/s

Mass (kg) Total Natural frequency, f 6 Time for 6 Time for 1

mass (kg) (rad/s) Oscillations Oscillations, Oscillation,
Experiment Theoretical (mm) 𝑇6 (s) 𝑇1 (s)
1.25 1.25 34.91 37.02 21 1.05 0.18

2+1.25 3.25 22.44 22.96 34 1.70 0.28

4+1.25 5.25 17.95 18.07 42 2.10 0.35

6+1.25 7.25 14.61 15.37 51 2.55 0.43

8+1.25 9.25 13.09 13.61 57 2.85 0.48

10+1.25 11.25 11.86 12.34 63 3.15 0.53

Table 2

Sample calculation

At mass 125 kg :
1. Natural frequency for experiment (rad/s) :

1
𝐹𝑛 =
𝑇1
1
=
0.18
= 5.56 𝐻𝑧 × 2𝜋
𝑟𝑎𝑑
= 34.91
𝑠

13
2. Natural frequency for theoretical (rad/s) :
Average spring constant, k = 1713.50 N/m
Total mass, m = 1.25 kg

Theoretical value :
𝑘
Natural frequency, W = √
𝑚

1713.50
=√
1.25
𝐹𝑛 (𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦) = 37.02 rad/s

3. Time for 6 oscillation, 𝑇6

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝑇6 =
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑
21
=
20
= 1.05 s

4. Time for 1 oscillation, 𝑇1

𝑇5
𝑇1 =
6
1.05
=
6
= 0.175 s

5. Percentage error

|𝐹𝑛 (𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦)− 𝐹𝑛 (𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙) |

% Error = × 100%
𝐹𝑛 (𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦)
|37.02−34.91 |
= × 100%
37.02

= 5.70 %

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Total mass (kg) Natural frequency, f (rad/s) Percentage error (%)

Experiment Theoretical
1.25 34.91 37.02 5.70

3.25 22.44 22.96 2.26

5.25 17.95 18.07 0.66

7.25 14.61 15.37 4.94

9.25 13.09 13.61 3.82

11.25 11.86 12.34 3.89

Table 3

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Reference

1. How to calculate the spring constant using Hooke’s Law (2016). Retrieved from
http://www.dummies.com/education/science/physics/how-to-calculate-a-spring-
constant-using-hookes-law/
2. https://docslide.us/documents/lab-pendulum-2.html
3. Engineering Mechanics Dynamics, 11th Edition In SI Units by R.C Hibbeler

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