- #1
icefall5
- 19
- 0
Homework Statement
Construct a plot of T versus [itex]\sqrt{m}[/itex]. Fit a straight line through your data and use Eq. (3.2.3) to obtain the spring constant k from the slope, as well as an uncertainty estimate for k.
T is the period of an inertial balance with various masses of mass m. Periods are measured in seconds -- we measured 10 oscillations and divided by 10. Masses are measured in grams; mass was given for each mass.
Homework Equations
Eq. (3.2.3): [itex]T = 2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Solving this equation for k gives [itex]\sqrt{k} = \frac{2\pi \sqrt{m}}{T}[/itex]. I graphed [itex]\sqrt{m}[/itex] on the y-axis, because with rise over run for the slope this makes sense. Then doing 2*pi times that number and then squaring that number gave me a spring constant of 167207, which is incredibly off (the equation for my trendline, done using Excel, is [itex]\sqrt{m} = 65.08T - 11.779[/itex]).
What am I missing? Thank you!
Attachments
Last edited: