Simple Harmonic Motion of a Mass-Spring System with Capstone

Hang a mass hanger with a 200g mass on it, and place a motion sensor on the floor directly below the mass hanger.

Place the motion sensor switch in its Wide position.

Start Capstone and open the file:  K:\Physics\Demonstrations\Mass-Spring Position Velocity.cap

1.     With the mass at rest, click on <Record>.  The displacement should be about 1 m.  Click on <Stop>.  Record this displacement.

2.     Open the Calculator and edit the formula by subtracting off the initial displacement you recorded above.  For example:

Displacement = [Position(m)] - 1.0
<Accept>

Close the Calculator

This makes the mass oscillate around "zero" as the at-rest position.

3.     Pull down the mass and release it. Click on <Record>.

4.     After about 10 oscillations, click on <Stop>

6.     For the top graph of Position vs. Time, select Curve Fit and then  Asin(ωt+φ)+C.