# Simple Harmonic Motion: vertical springs - graphing period^2 & mass

by crankine
Tags: harmonic, mass, motion, period, simple
 P: 5 1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data Using experimental values for mass and period of oscillations, I'm trying to graph period$$^{2}$$ (y-axis) against mass (x-axis) to get a gradient = 4(pi$$^{2}$$)/k so I can find k (spring constant). The problem is that when I use each pair of results in the equation below, I get the right answer for k, but when I graph it and try to use the gradient its wrong!!!! I'm pretty confident I've substitued correctly etc. If you want the exact data then I would put it up but I don't know how to put tables. 2. Relevant equations T = 2pi√(mass/k): T$$^{2}$$ = 4(pi$$^{2}$$)(mass/k) -> compared to y=mx, m=4(pi$$^{2}$$)/k k = 4mass(pi$$^{2}$$)/(T$$^{2}$$) -> substituting each pair of T and mass here I get the right answer 3. The attempt at a solution I've tried swapping the axes and graphing T against m$$^{1/2}$$ and so on but nothing has got me any closer to the right answer.