Oscillatory motion? Does this spring have to do with oscillatory motio

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether a vertical spring experiment qualifies as oscillatory motion. The original experiment involved measuring the displacement of a stationary spring under added weights, leading to confusion about its classification. It is clarified that oscillatory motion requires movement, which occurs when the mass is pulled and released, causing the spring to oscillate around an equilibrium point. To properly demonstrate oscillatory motion, the experiment should involve measuring the time of oscillation after pulling the mass. Thus, without movement, the initial setup does not count as oscillatory motion.
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Hi, i started to learn oscillatory motion today, and my teacher didn't teach us very well...and he told us that we were to conduct a oscillatory motion lab. So, me and a couple of other friends conducted a spring not moving that was hanged vertically and just calculated the displacement of the spring every time we added weights on it. we then used the formula of F = -KX, to find the spring constant. And i was wondering if this still counted as a oscillatory motion? I would say no since it's not moving, but my teacher seems legitimately enough to believe it counts as a oscillatory motion lab. I don't see how i can describe how this spring has a connection to oscillatory motion. So do you think it has a connection to oscillatory motion?

My data were

Mass (g)
1. 50
2. 60
3. 70
4. 80
5. 90
6. 100

Distance the spring stretched (cm)
1. 9.5
2. 10.4
3. 11.6
4. 12.5
5. 13.8
6. 14.5
 
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That experiment was about spring force, to show that the force exerted by a stretched spring, is proportional to the change of length of the spring. And it can be shown that such force involves oscillatory motion. Just pull a bit the mass hanging at the end of the spring and it will do oscillation about the previous equilibrium point.

ehild
 
Also, the frequency of the oscillation can be calculated from the formula $$f=\frac{1}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}},$$ where k is the spring constant and m is the attached mass.
 
ehild said:
That experiment was about spring force, to show that the force exerted by a stretched spring, is proportional to the change of length of the spring. And it can be shown that such force involves oscillatory motion. Just pull a bit the mass hanging at the end of the spring and it will do oscillation about the previous equilibrium point.

ehild

So if I don't pull it and let it hanging it doesn't count as oscillatory motion?
 
When the spring and the mass hanged onto it are steady, it is not oscillatory motion. It is not motion at all.

ehild
 
ehild said:
When the spring and the mass hanged onto it are steady, it is not oscillatory motion. It is not motion at all.

ehild

So if I was to redo my lab. And I would have to pull the spring how would I measure the time?
 
Pull the weight hanging on the spring to set it into motion. You need a stopwatch to measure the time of a few periods. The weight moves up and down, the time period is the time elapsed between two subsequent highest or (lowest) positions. Measure at least 5 periods.

ehild
 
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