Explanation:
The easiest way is to use Excel to graph the data and add a trendline. Alternatively, you can use graph paper and a ruler and try to eyeball the best fit line.
The units of the axes are:
T = [s]
1/√k = [1/√(N/m)] = [√(m/N)] = [√(m / (kg m/s²))] = [s/√kg]
The equation for the period is T = (2π√m) (1/√k), so the slope of the line is 2π√m, and the units of the slope are √kg. Using 4.30√kg as the slope, we can calculate the mass:
4.30√kg = 2π√m
0.684√kg = √m
m = 0.468 kg
If the actual mass is 0.500 kg, then the percent difference is:
|0.468 − 0.500| / (0.500) × 100% = 6.33%
