Instructions: Play the simulation called Masses & Springs: https://phet.colorado
ID: 1650512 • Letter: I
Question
Instructions:
Play the simulation called Masses & Springs: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/mass-spring-lab
Become familiar with the controls to adjust friction, softness of spring 3, energy displays, speed of simulation, gravity ( Jupiter, Moon, Earth, Planet X, g=0), stopwatch, moving the ruler, moving the dotted line, and hanging a mass on the spring.
Now reload the page to start with default settings. Choose the option to Show Energy of Spring 2 where PEelas stands for Elastic Potential Energy.
Q1) Now hang the 250g mass from Spring 2. You will see that friction brings the mass to rest at a lower height than the previous equilibrium position of the spring. Why does a mass at rest hanging on a spring change its equilibrium position?
Q2) Now hang a 100g mass from Spring 3. Choose the option the Show Energy of Spring 3. How does the total E of Spring 3 at rest with the 100g mass on it compare to the total E of Spring 2 at rest with 250gmass on it?
Remove all masses from all springs (so that the energy for each spring is reset). Now drag friction down to "none." Show Energy of Spring 2. Put the 250g mass at the end of Spring 2 but don't release it. Drag the 250g mass slowly down with the spring attached until you find the lowest possible value of Total E. Now release the mass at that height where it should sit still. Now pull the 250g mass a little bit further down so that it gets some up and down motion when you release it. NEXT, show the energy of Sring 3. Now put a 100g mass on Spring 3 and drag it until the Total E is the same as the Total E of Spring 2. (Switch back and forth between Show Energy of 2 and 3 to compare Total E so you can make them the same). THEN, release the 100g mass at the location that makes Total E on spring 3 the same as Total E on spring 2.
Q3) Which mass moves a greater distance throughout one period of its motion?
Q4) Which mass moves with greater speed throughout one period of its motion?
Q5) Describe the energy system differences in these two springs to explain how they can both be a mass on a spring with the same total energy but have such different appearances in their motion.
PLEASE EXPLAIN QUESTIONS IN AT LEAST 2 SENTENCES! THANK YOU!
Explanation / Answer
A1)The spring gets stretched by the hanging mass and comes to rest at that position where the force due to gravity gets balanced by Hooke's law.
A2)Total energy due to 100g mass is less than that of 250g mass
A3)100 g moves a greater distance throughout one period of its motion.
A4)100 g moves with greater speed throughout one period of its motion.
A5)Time period is directly proportional to square root of mass. So higher the mass , more is the time period.