In the menu bar at the bottom of the PhET – Masses and Springs: Basics
Links to an external site.
simulation, select "Lab."

Again, briefly familiarize yourself with the simulation by adjusting the settings and using the tools, such as the stopwatch and moveable line.

Then, adjust the simulation's settings as follows.

Ensure the Gravity option is set to "Earth" in the dropdown menu.
Set the speed in the lower right corner to "Slow."
Adjust the block's mass to 200 g.
Set the String Strength 1 to "Large" (the furthest tick to the right).
Hang the 200-g block from the spring.
Pull the mass to the bottom of the simulation so it's resting on top of the black menu bar, as shown below.
Release the block to set it in motion.

Use the tools to determine which of the following statements are true about the block's motion.

Select all statements that are true.

Question

In the menu bar at the bottom of the PhET – Masses and Springs: Basics
Links to an external site.
 simulation, select "Lab."

Again, briefly familiarize yourself with the simulation by adjusting the settings and using the tools, such as the stopwatch and moveable line.

Then, adjust the simulation's settings as follows.

Ensure the Gravity option is set to "Earth" in the dropdown menu.
Set the speed in the lower right corner to "Slow."
Adjust the block's mass to 200 g.
Set the String Strength 1 to "Large" (the furthest tick to the right).
Hang the 200-g block from the spring.
Pull the mass to the bottom of the simulation so it's resting on top of the black menu bar, as shown below.
Release the block to set it in motion.

Use the tools to determine which of the following statements are true about the block's motion.

Select all statements that are true.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

This question asks you to judge which statements about the block’s motion are true after setting gravity to Earth, speed to Slow, mass to 200 g, and Spring Strength 1 to Large, with the block released from resting on the bottom.
First, consider what the motion is likely to be: a vertical mass–spring system with a relatively heavy mass (0.2 kg) and a fairly stiff spring (Spring Strength 1 set to Large). The motion is simple harmonic for small displacements, so its period T and frequency f are governed by T = 2π sqrt(m/k) and f = 1/T, where m is the mass and k is the effective spring constant.
Now evaluate the given statements one by one.
Option 1: The period of the block's motion is approximately 0.8 s. 
- Why it could be true: If the effective spring constant k is such that m/k yields a value giving T ≈ 0.8 s, this would imply k ≈ m (2π/T)^2 = 0.2 × (2π/0.8)^2 ≈ 0.2 × (7.85398)^2 ≈ 0.2 × 61.7 ≈ 12.3 N/m. With a 0.2 kg mass and a relatively strong spring as configured, a period around 0.8 s is plausible. The device’s slow setting also makes the motion easy to observe, supporting a moderate period rather than a very fast oscillation.
- Conclusion for this option: Plausible and consistent with a 0.2 kg mass and a fairly stiff spring; there is no obvious discrepancy.
Option 2: The frequency of the block's motion is approximately 1.25 s^-1. 
- Why it could be true: Frequency f is the reciprocal of the period, f = 1/T. If T ≈ 0.8 s, then f ≈ 1/0.8 ≈ 1.25 Hz, which matches the statement. This is simply another way of expressing the same underlying motion as in Option 1, so it is consistent with the expected Simple Harmonic Motion for the given setup.
- Conclusion for this option: Also plausible and directly tied to the same calculation as Option 1.
On the other hand, what would weaken these options would be if the actual measured period were far from 0.8 s or if the frequency were far from 1.25 s^-1, which could occur if the effective k was much smaller or larger than estimated, or if the system wasn’t in the small-displacement regime.
However, given the configuration described (200 g mass, large spring strength, Earth gravity, slow speed), the most reasonable expectation is that the period is around 0.8 s and the frequency around 1.25 s^-1. In the absence of conflicting information from other presented options (which aren’t shown here), these two statements coherently describe the same oscillatory behavior and are consistent with standard mass–spring dynamics.

PHYS 2306 Lab - Summer Session 2 - 2025 Pre-lab Assignment: Lab 1

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