Spring and Mass

About this simulation

Spring and Mass models simple harmonic motion with Hooke's law. Students set the spring stiffness k, the mass, the damping and how far the mass is pulled back, and any change restarts the motion from the stretched position. Readouts show kinetic energy, spring energy, total energy and the period 2 pi times the square root of m over k. Teachers can use it to show how period depends on mass and stiffness, how energy is conserved without damping, and how damping drains it.

What students can explore

Set Damping c to 0 and watch the Total energy readout stay constant.
Double Mass m and check how the Period readout changes.
Raise Stiffness k and compare the new period with your prediction.
Increase Damping c and see how long the oscillation lasts.
Change Pull back and notice that the period stays the same while energy changes.

Learning objectives

1Apply Hooke's law to a mass on a spring.
2Relate period to mass and stiffness.
3Describe the exchange between kinetic and elastic potential energy.
4Explain how damping removes mechanical energy from a system.

Questions teachers ask

Is the Spring and Mass simulation free?

Yes. It is free, requires no sign-up and works in any modern browser, including classroom whiteboards and tablets.

Does pulling the spring back farther change the period?

No. For an ideal spring the period is 2 pi times the square root of m over k and does not depend on amplitude. Try changing Pull back and read the Period value.

How do I use it?

Adjust the sliders for stiffness, mass, damping and pull back. The run restarts each time. Watch the energy bars and readouts to compare kinetic, spring and total energy.

Where does the energy go with damping?

Damping acts like friction in a fluid. It turns mechanical energy into heat, so the total energy readout falls steadily and the swings shrink.

Embed this simulation

Drop it into your LMS, blog, or class site — free.

<iframe src="https://kiwibee.io/en/simulations/spring-mass-3d-simulation/embed" title="Spring and Mass | KiwiBee" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen style="width:100%;height:min(70vh,620px);min-height:420px;border:0;border-radius:16px"></iframe>

Continue exploring

Experiment with a numerical mechanics model and compare motion with conserved quantities.

—

A jumper hovers above a trampoline mat. Students drag them up or push them into the mat, let go, and watch each bounce mark its peak while sliders change stiffness, mass, gravity and restitution.

—

Explore an adult male reference body in 3D. Reveal 14 anatomical systems, search thousands of named structures, isolate organs, and pull 2,209 modeled pieces apart to see how the body is organized.

—

Explore the head and neck in 3D: 643 source meshes across 14 layers, 47 facial and masticatory muscles, and 77 drawn nerves, vessels and glands the source scan omits. Open any tooth onto its own pulp canal, and follow the seven stages of tooth development.

—