Spring-Mass System 
Interview Protocol 

Student is first given an oral task based on the prerequisites and goals the module developers have.  

Oral Task  

Here we have a spring hanging from a ring stand support.  We then place a mass on the spring so that the mass is able to oscillate. 

1.  Draw a free body diagram for a mass on a spring for the following cases: 

    i.   when it is moving with a maximum velocity 
    ii.  when it is moving with no velocity (at the bottom of its motion) 

2.  Write Newton's 2nd Law mathematically (i.e. write the differential equation for the motion of the mass) and explain how you came up with your answer. 

3.  Why is the sign in front of the kx negative? What does it imply about the motion of the mass and how would the motion of the mass be different if the sign were positive? 
4.  Does the equation hold during the entire motion? Explain. 
5.  (PRE-REQ) What is the solution to the equation ? [Acos(w t)+Bsin(w t)+mg/k] 
    i.   What determines the coefficients A, and B? 
    ii.  Are there any other ways to write the solution? 

6.  Consider a mass held where the spring is in its unstretched position.  The mass is then released. Write down all the initial conditions needed to obtain A,B. 

    i.   in words 
    ii.  mathematically 

7.  The mass starts from where the spring is stretched a distance d from equilibrium and a a clock is started when the velocity of the mass is maximum. Make a plot of the masses' position vs. time. 

8.  Make a similar plot if the mass starts where the spring is stretched the same distance, d as above, but it is given a starting push. Again the clock is started when the velocity of the mass is maximum. 

9.  How would the motion of the mass change if the spring were stretched more and the mass was released (without the push)? Make a plot of the motion. 

10.  How would the motion change if a heavier mass were used but the spring was stretched the same distance d?Again the mass is given no starting push. Make a plot of the motion. 

11.  If damping had to be considered how would your differential equation change? Explain. 

Student now uses material on the web at: http://www.math.rpi.edu/www/diffeq/links/springmass/index.html.   
The student then moves on to the written task.   

Written Task   

The figure at the right shows two identical, massless, frictionless, springs, each with spring constant k, hanging from a bar. Attached to one spring is a mass m1. Attached to the other spring is a mass m2, where m2 > m1. At t = 0, the two masses are connected to the springs and released from rest. 

(Note: When the masses are at their starting height, the springs are at their unstretched lengths.)  

A. On a single set of y vs. t axes (where y is position and t is time), sketch a graph of the motion of each of the masses. Label your axes clearly and identify which curve corresponds to which mass. 

B.     i) Determine the equation which gives y as a function of t for m1. 
C. Describe how you would determine when during the oscillations, if at all, the masses would be at the same height. (Do not work out the details, just clearly describe the steps.) Explain your reasoning. 

RETURNS

 

University of Maryland  Physics Department  PERG UMD  Project Links 
       
Please address questions and comments about this protocol to Mel Sabella. 
email: msabella@delphi.umd.edu