1.11 (a)A 0.5 kg mass is attached to a linear spring of stiffness 0.1 N/m.

Determine the natural

frequency of the system in hertz. b) Repeat this calculation for a mass of 50 kg and a
stiffness of 10 N/m. Compare your result to that of part a.

Solution: From the definition of frequency and equation (1.12)

k .5
(a ) !n = = = 0.447 rad/s
m .1
! 2.236
fn = n = = 0.071 Hz
2" 2"
50 !
(b ) !n = = 0.447rad/s, f n = n = 0.071 Hz
10 2"

Part (b) is the same as part (a) thus very different systems can have same natural
frequencies.