Driven Harmonic Oscillator: Finding the Resonance Frequency
Physics 223
Dr. Hank Yochum
Fall 2000

Goal:
Your group is to accurately determine resonance frequency for a damped driven mass on a spring. 

Procedure and Apparatus:
No procedure is given for this lab, YOU are to determine what procedure to follow.  The equipment you will have available:
    Mechanical Driver    (to drive mass on spring)
    Signal Generator    (to send signal to driver, the signal generator determines the driving frequency of the mass)
    Oscilloscope    (to determine the frequency the signal generator is outputting, the knobs are very inaccurate on the signal generator)
    Mass on spring with damping vane
    Macmotion software for data collection
    Motion Sensor

Given these items, perform an experiment that will determine the resonance frequency.

Your Lab Report:
You will complete a standard lab report with full data and error analysis. Precision with our measurement tools is a concern in this lab.  Determine uncertainties associated with each device.  That is estimate the error in your driver frequency measurements.   This will give you error bars when determining the resonance frequency.

A couple things think about:  What role does damping play on the resonance frequency and amplitude?   Is your mass in the small or large damping regime?  Could you determine the resonance frequency theoretically?  If so, how does this compare to what you found experimentally?

Prelab:
Make sure you understand what resonance is.  Read section 16.9 in your text on forced oscillations and resonance.  A copy of another text which discusses forced oscillations will be available outside my office door.  Finally, propose how you will determine the resonance frequency.

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last updated 10/02/00.