Which m is meant? Urgent!?
We were asked to attach different pendulum masses (50g, 100g, 150g, 200g) to a 23g spring and then let it oscillate. This would measure the oscillation period T. Now we were asked to draw a Tm diagram.
But which m is meant here? Just the weight of the pendulum mass, or the weight of the spring with the pendulum mass, so, for example, 73g?
In most cases, the inherent mass of the spring is neglected, but since it has been explicitly stated here and is not as far away from the attached masses from the order of magnitude, it may be in the T–m-To be included diagram.
If, however, the intrinsic mass is also involved, the (known) simpler formula of the spring pendulum does not result, but rather a somewhat more complicated one:
For an evaluation of a school experiment, however, one can actually expect the natural mass to be ignored.
Thank you!! Should the graph go through 0 or start at 50g?
The origin (0|0) is in principle part of the graph, because then (if the natural mass is ignored) nothing depends on a spring and it does not swing. Physically, however, the value is actually due, because there is no pendulum at all if there is no mass.
I’d just make the first cross at the first vibration period and 50g.
But you can note the open questions and talk to them in class, which shows that you were thinking.
Only the pendulum masses, because the formulas for pendulums apply only to dot-shaped masses.
Thank you!! Should the graph go through 0 or start at 50g?