Elastic Potential Energy SHM Lab (Discovery)
AP Physics 1 – Simple Harmonic Motion
Name______________________
Date__________ Period_______
All answers and data must follow the PSI Lab Report Format.
Objectives
Observe the relationship between position, velocity, acceleration as a function of time. Using a
graphical approach, use found graphs to find EPE versus time and KE versus time.
Materials (per team)
● Mass with hook (to serve as hanging mass)
● Spring of known constant
● PASCO motion sensor (set to the cart design)
● Stand with clamp
Guiding Questions
How would you use the provided materials to observe position, velocity, and acceleration?
What equations may apply to this lab?
How would the chosen equations apply to the found relationships of 𝑥, 𝑣, and 𝑎?
What kind of graph would work best for this lab in order to create the final drawn graph?
Which concepts/constants apply to this lab?
What conditions must you keep the same when pursuing multiple trials?
A complete lab report must include
❏ The materials you used and how you used them
❏ A detailed procedure describing how to setup the experiment
❏ Analysis of the data
❏ A conclusion including:
❏ A summary of your results
❏ Your drawn graph with correct intervals showing data you have collected
❏ An assessment of any errors that may have affected your data
❏ Discussion how you might improve the experiment and/or describing what further
experiments you might like to perform on this subject
Challenge Questions
● Can EPE be negative? Justify your answer.
●
What is the main difference between 𝑥, 𝑣, and 𝑎 as a function of time and EPE and KE
graphs as function of time?
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Harmonic Motion
AP Physics 1
Simple