Investigate how changing the spring amplitude changes the pe

Investigate how changing the spring amplitude changes the period of the motion. Take care not to use too large of an amplitude so that the mass does not come closer than 15 cm to the detector or fall from the spring.

Solution

For a periodic motion, such as simple harmonic motion, the period of the motion is given by 2*pi*sqrt(m/k)

That is, the period is independent of the amplitude of the system.

The amplitude infact is governed by the energy of the system and has no effect on the time period or the frequency which depend only on the mass under motion and the spring constant.