Q: In the lab “Oscillation of Pendulum”, the data show Period has dependency on Amplitude. In the lab “Oscillation on Spring”, the data show Period has no dependency on Amplitude. Why?
A: For Pendulum, only within a limited small amplitude (oscillation angle is within 10 degrees), Pendulum would follow Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM), in which Period has no dependency on Amplitude. It is called Simple Pendulum. Therefore, Period has dependency on Amplitude in general when the data go beyond 10 degrees in amplitude (that is the case in our lab).
For the oscillation of mass on spring. Regardless of the amplitude, it is always SHM! Therefore, Period has no dependency on Amplitude in this lab!
