Physics 4
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  • HOME
    • Introduction
    • Pre-course Setup
  • PHYSICS 4AL
    • 4AL Grading Policy
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Google Drive
    • Report Writing
    • 4AL Lab Sections /Office hours
    • Unit 1 - Training (Winter 2023)
    • Unit 2 - Motion (Winter 2023)
    • Unit 3 - Oscillations (Winter 2023)
    • Unit 4 - Project (Winter 2023)
  • PHYSICS 4BL
    • Grading Policy
    • Lab Sections/ Office Hours
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Google Drive
    • Report Writing
    • Unit 1 - Training
    • Unit 2 - Sound
    • Unit 3 - Circuits
    • Unit 4 - Optics
    • Unit 5 - Project
    • Pre-Lab Assignments
  • RESOURCES
    • Physics
    • Python
    • Arduino
    • Electronics
    • Software Download
  • EXTERNAL LINKS
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Unit 3 -  Oscillations 

Unit 3 - Oscillations (Page and links under construction)
Now that you have an ultrasound, accelerometer, wifi box system you can test it on a mass spring system.
  • Lab 3A : Vertical mass spring
  • Lab 3B : Vertical mass spring continued and fitting
  • Lab 3C : Damped oscillations
  • Lab 3D : Forced oscillations

Physics Background

To review physics laws on mechanics, please check out  OpenStax texbook.
  • University Physics Volume 1
​​Here are important Chapters:
  • 3.4 Motion with Constant Acceleration
  • ​3.5 Free Fall
  • ​5.1 Simple Harmonic Motion
  • ​15.2 Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

Lab 3A:   Vertical Mass-Spring

In this lab, we explore a vertical mass-spring system.   We treat an Arduino box as a mass, measure the position and acceleration along the vertical axis. 

Pre-Lab 3A

  • Prelab Instructions​

Lab 3A Instruction 

  • Lab 3A Slides
  • ​Assignment slides
  • ​accel_ultrasound_wifi_with Calibration Transmitter Code
​​Important points:
  1. Make sure that one of Arduino Box in your group is fully functional.
    1. WiFi communication is reliable
    2. Ultrasound distance sensor is reading well, calibrated well
    3. Accelerometer is reading well, calibrated well
  2. Make sure that you understand the basic physics of harmonic oscillation: read  ​5.1 Simple Harmonic Motion
  3. Next, make sure that you obtain a reliable spring constant (k), by hanging well-known mass(s) of 50, 100, 200 g (and various combinations if you like).
  4. Measure the actual mass of the Arduino Box by a scale.  Then predict the angular frequency w = sqrt (k/m). 
  5. Finally, you are ready to take data. The initial condition is critical.   Push the Arduino Box at a slightly higher point (than the resting point) slowly, say by the displacement, A.   Then release it without any initial velocity.  This should give you a very predictable motion of y(t) = A*cos(wt).   (If the initial velocity is not zero, the motion would be different.  How?)
  6. After that, you are welcome to combine two springs in series and in parallel.  But always predict the angular frequency w, before your measurement.  When you measure, compare your prediction and observation.  If they do not agree, address the origin of the error.  This is going to be the essence of your report this week.

Lab 3B : Vertical Mass-Spring cont'd

Pre-Lab 3B

  • Raw Data 
  • Python notebook
  • Assignment slides
​In this lab, we study harmonic oscillation, based on a horizontal mass-spring system an an air track. 
  • Please review two fundamental concepts of physics:
    • ​5.1 Simple Harmonic Motion
    • ​15.2 Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

Lab 3B Instruction 

  • Lab 3B Slides 
  • Lab 3B Assignment Slides
  • Jupyter notebook
  • Least squares lecture notes

Lab 3C : Damped Oscillations

Lab 3C Instruction ​

  • Lab 3C Slides
  • Lab 3C assignment slides

Lab 3D : Forced Oscillations

Pre-lab 3D

Pre-lab 3D assignment slides

Lab 3D Instructions

  • Lab 3D Lab Instructions
  • Lab 3D assignment slides
  • ​Arduino code for driver
  • Reference slides

Unit 3 Report 

  • Harmonic Oscillations Report Template
edited Jan 19, 2023 by Javier Carmona
  • HOME
    • Introduction
    • Pre-course Setup
  • PHYSICS 4AL
    • 4AL Grading Policy
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Google Drive
    • Report Writing
    • 4AL Lab Sections /Office hours
    • Unit 1 - Training (Winter 2023)
    • Unit 2 - Motion (Winter 2023)
    • Unit 3 - Oscillations (Winter 2023)
    • Unit 4 - Project (Winter 2023)
  • PHYSICS 4BL
    • Grading Policy
    • Lab Sections/ Office Hours
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Google Drive
    • Report Writing
    • Unit 1 - Training
    • Unit 2 - Sound
    • Unit 3 - Circuits
    • Unit 4 - Optics
    • Unit 5 - Project
    • Pre-Lab Assignments
  • RESOURCES
    • Physics
    • Python
    • Arduino
    • Electronics
    • Software Download
  • EXTERNAL LINKS
    • GradeScope
    • CCLE
    • MyUCLA
    • CampusWire
    • UCLA Calendars
    • UCLA Physics Dept.