Basic Idea:

• Determine the mass of a car.

What:	How Many:	Where:
Heavy spring See note #1 below	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf E2
Pendulum clamp	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf C3
Long metal rod (1 m x 0.2 m)	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf B5
Large bench clamp	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf C3
1 kg mass	2	non-Majors storeroom, shelf D4
1 kg mass hangar	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf D4
Meterstick	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf AA2
Meterstick caliper	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf AA3
Stopwatch See note #2 below	1	non-Majors storeroom, shelf AA3
The following item is shared:
Bathroom Scale	As many as we have	non-Majors storeroom, shelf E1

Computers Needed?

• No

• Lab setup (inside experiment):

  

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• Spring and masses (Note: wrap a strand or two of masking tape to secure one 1 kg mass to the hangar, to make it a 2 kg mass hangar):

  

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• For the outside experiment, a suckers, er, volunteers car is needed.

• Note #1: Check that the spring used will oscillate smoothly with just the mass hanger suspended. If the spring is too tightly wound, it will bounce when oscillated.

• Note #2: If a stopwatch isn't available, aphotogate timer can be used as a stopwatch for measuring the oscillation period of a car. 4 C–Batteries must be inserted into each timer for outside use!

• Selected auto weights (the smaller cars work much better than the trucks!):

  Vehicle	"Weight" (lbs)	Owner
  Jeep Cherokee	3000	JRM, AO'D
  Jeep Grand Cherokee	3600	BW
  Toyota Land Cruiser	4700	KJ
  Honda Civic	2200	KJ (formerly JRM)