The Period of a Mass on a Spring

Example: A mass of m = 0.12 kg attached to a spring

oscillates with an amplitude of 0.075 m and a maximum
speed of 0.524 m/s. Find (a) the spring constant, (b) the
period of motion.
2π
v = −Aω sin(ωt) = −Aω sin( t)
T
π
v max occurs for sin(ωt) = 1 ⇒ ωt =
2
The maximum velocity occurs when mass passes the equilibrium position.
v max 0.524m /s
v max = Aω ⇒ ω = = = 7s-1
A 0.075m
k
(a) For a mass on a string : ω = ⇒ k = ω 2m = (7s-1 ) 2 (0.12kg) = 5.86 kg s-2
m
2π 2π
(b) T = = -1 = 0.9s
ω 7s

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 The  Period  of  a  Mass  on  a  Spring  
Example:      A  mass  of  m  =  0.26  kg  is  abached  to  a  ver:cal  spring.  
When  in  mo:on  the  period  is  T  =  1.12s.  (a)  How  much  does  the  
mass  stretch  the  spring  when  it  is  in  its  equilibrium  posi:on?  (b)  
Suppose  this  experiment  was  performed  on  a  planet  with  twice  
the  accelera:on  of  gravity  on  Earth.  By  what  factors  do  the  
period  and  equilibrium  posi:on  change?    

mg E
(a) When in equilibrium on Earth : (a) mg E = ky E ⇒ y E =
k
m
(b) TP = 2π = TE , m and k do not depend on gravity
k
and therefore the period of oscillation will not change on
planet X. The equilibrium position on planet X will be :
m2g E
yP = = 2y E
k

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 Energy  Conserva:on  in  Oscillatory  Mo:on  
Stop  the  Block:  A  m  =  0.98kg  block  with  v=1.32  m/s  
encounters  a  spring  with  k=245  N/m.  (a)  How  far  is  the  spring  
compressed  before  coming  to  a  rest?  (b)  How  long  is  the  
block  in  contact  with  the  spring  before  it  comes  to  rest?  
1 1
(a) Conservation of Energy : E i = E f ⇒ mv 2 = kA2 ⇒
2 2
2 mv 2 m 0.98kg
A = ⇒A=v ⇒ A = 1.32m/s = 0.083m
k k 245N/m

(b) The block is in contact for a quarter period : t = T/4

T 2π m 2π A π 0.083m
t= = = = = 0.1s
4 4 k 4 v 2 1.32m/s

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 Energy  Conserva:on  in  Oscillatory  Mo:on  
Bullet-­‐Block  Collision:  A  bullet  of  mass  m  embeds  itself  in  a  
block  of  mass  M.  If  the  ini:al  speed  of  the  bullet  is  v0  ,  find  (a)  
the  maximum  compression  of  the  spring,  (b)  the  :me  for  the  
bullet-­‐block  to  come  to  rest.

mv 0
(a) Conservation of momentum : Pi = Pf ⇒ mv 0 = (m + M)v f ⇒ v f =
(m + M)
Conservsation of Mechanical Energy : E i = E f ⇒
2
1 2 1 2 1 ⎡ mv 0
⎤ 1 2
(m + M)v f = kA ⇒ (m + M) ⎢ ⎥ = kA ⇒
2 2 2 ⎣ (m + M) ⎦ 2
2
(mv0 ) 2
= kA ⇒ A =
(mv 0 )
(m + M) k(m + M)

T 2π m +M
(b) The block is in contact t = =
4 4 k

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Simple Harmonic Motion on a Frictionless Surface: A 0.350-kg object
attached to a spring of force constant 1.30 × 102 N/m is free to move on a
frictionless horizontal surface, as in Active Figure 13.1. If the object is released
from rest at x = 0.100 m, find the force on it and its acceleration at x = 0.100 m, x
= 0.050 0 m, x = 0 m, x = 20.050 m, and x = 20.100 m.

m = 0.350kg, k = 1.3 × 10 2 N/m, A = 0.1m

2
2 k 1.3 × 10 N/m N
ω = = = 371.4
m 0.350kg m kg

F(x) = −kx
a(x) = −Aω 2 cos(ωt ) = −ω 2 x
 Mass  on  a  Ver7cal  Spring:  A  spring  is  hung  ver:cally  (Fig.  13.2a),  and  an  object  of  mass  
m  abached  to  the  lower  end  is  then  slowly  lowered  a  distance  d  to  the  equilibrium  point  
(Fig.  13.2b).  (a)  Find  the  value  of  the  spring  constant  if  the  spring  is  displaced  by  2.0  cm  
and  the  mass  is  0.55  kg.  (b)  If  a  second  iden:cal  spring  is  abached  to  the  object  in  
parallel  with  the  first  spring  (Fig.  13.2d),  where  is  the  new  equilibrium  point  of  the  
system?  (c)  What  is  the  effec:ve  spring  constant  of  the  two  springs  ac:ng  as  one?  

mg (0.55kg)(9.80m/s )
2

(a) mg = kd ⇒ k = = = 269.5kg/s2
d 0.02m
mg (0.55kg)(9.80m/s ) = 0.01m
2

(b) mg = 2kd1 ⇒ d1 = =
2k 2(269.5kg/s 2 )
mg
(c) mg = k eff d1 ⇒ keff = = 539kg/s 2
d1

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 Stop  That  Car!:  A  13  000-­‐N  car  starts  at  rest  and  rolls  down  a  hill  from  a  height  of  10.0  
m  (Fig.  13.6).  It  then  moves  across  a  level  surface  and  collides  with  a  light  spring-­‐
loaded  guard-­‐rail.  (a)  Neglec:ng  any  losses  due  to  fric:on,  and  ignoring  the  rota:onal  
kine:c  energy  of  the  wheels,  find  the  maximum  distance  the  spring  is  compressed.  
Assume  a  spring  constant  of  1.0  ×  106  N/m.  (b)  Calculate  the  maximum  accelera:on  
of  the  car  amer  contact  with  the  spring,  assuming  no  fric:onal  losses.  (c)  If  the  spring  
is  compressed  by  only  0.30  m,  find  the  change  in  the  mechanical  energy  due  to  
fric:on.  
(a) Conservation of energy : PE →KE →PE
1 1 2mgh 2mgh 2(13000)(10m)
mgh = mv 2 = kx 2 ⇒ x 2 = ⇒x= = = 0.51m
2 2 k k 1.0 × 10 6 N/m

(b) a = -Aω 2 cos(ωt ) ⇒ amax = Aω 2 (1)

2π k 1.0 × 10 6 N/m
ω= = = = 27.5 Hz (2)
T m (13000 N) /(9.8 m/s2 )
2
(1)^(2) ⇒ amax = (0.51m)(27.5 Hz) = 385.7m/s2

1
(c) W nc = ΔE = E f - E i = k(0.3m) 2 − (mgh) ⇒
2
(0.5)(1.0 × 10 6 N/m)(0.3m) 2 − (13000 N)(10m) = −8.5 × 10 5 J

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 The  Object–Spring  System  Revisited:  A  0.500-­‐kg  object  connected  to  a  light  spring  
with  a  spring  constant  of  20.0  N/m  oscillates  on  a  fric:on-­‐less  horizontal  surface.  (a)  
Calculate  the  total  energy  of  the  system  and  the  maximum  speed  of  the  object  if  the  
amplitude  of  the  mo:on  is  3.00  cm.  (b)  What  is  the  velocity  of  the  object  when  the  
displacement  is  2.00  cm?  (c)  Compute  the  kine:c  and  poten:al  energies  of  the  system  
when  the  displacement  is  2.00  cm.  

1 2
(a) E tot = kA 2 = (0.5)(20 N/m)(0.03m) = 0.009J
2

(b)

1 1
E tot = 0.009J = mv 2 + k(0.02m) 2 ⇒ v = ±0.141m/s
2 2

1 2
(c) KE(0.02m) = mv 2 = 0.5(0.5kg)(0.14m/s) = 0.005J
2
PE = 0.009J - 0.005J = 0.004J or
1 2
PE = kx 2 = 0.5(20 N/m)(0.02m) = 0.004J
2

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 That  Car  Needs  Shock  Absorbers!:  A  1.30  ×  103-­‐kg  car  is  constructed  on  a  frame  
supported  by  four  springs.  Each  spring  has  a  spring  constant  of  2.00  ×  104  N/m.  If  
two  people  riding  in  the  car  have  a  combined  mass  of  1.60  ×  102  kg,  find  the  
frequency  of  vibra:on  of  the  car  when  it  is  driven  over  a  pothole  in  the  road.  Find  
also  the  period  and  the  angular  frequency.  Assume  the  weight  is  evenly  distributed.  

Effective spring constant :

mtotal g = 4kx ⇒ keff = 4k

4k 4 (2 × 10 4 N/m)
ω= = = 7.4Hz
m 1.46 × 10 3 kg
2π ω 7.4Hz
ω= = 2πf ⇒ f = = = 1.18Hz
T 2π 2π
2π 2π
T= = = 0.85s
ω 7.4Hz

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The  Vibra7ng  Object–Spring  System:  (a)  Find  the  amplitude,  frequency,  and  period  of  
mo:on  for  an  object  vibra:ng  at  the  end  of  a  horizontal  spring  if  the  equa:on  for  its  
posi:on  as  a  func:on  of  :me  is      
⎛ π ⎞
x = (0.250 m) cos⎜ t ⎟
⎝ 8.00 ⎠
(b)  Find  the  maximum  magnitude  of  the  velocity  and  accelera:on.  (c)  What  are  the  
posi:on,  velocity,  and  accelera:on  of  the  object  amer  1.00  s  has  elapsed?  
€
 The  Vibra7ng  Object–Spring  System:  (a)  Find  the  amplitude,  frequency,  and  period  of  
mo:on  for  an  object  vibra:ng  at  the  end  of  a  horizontal  spring  if  the  equa:on  for  its  
posi:on  as  a  func:on  of  :me  is      
⎛ π ⎞
x = (0.250 m) cos⎜ t ⎟
⎝ 8.00 ⎠
(b)  Find  the  maximum  magnitude  of  the  velocity  and  accelera:on.  (c)  What  are  the  
posi:on,  velocity,  and  accelera:on  of  the  object  amer  1.00  s  has  elapsed?  
€ π
π ω Hz 1 2π 2π
(a) ω = Hz A = 0.250m f = = 8 = Hz T = = = 16s
8 2π 2π 16 ω π
Hz
8
(b)
⎛ π ⎞
v max = - Aω = −(0.250m)⎜ Hz⎟ = 0.098 m/s
⎝ 8 ⎠
⎛ π ⎞ 2
amax = -Aω = −(0.250m)⎜ Hz⎟ = 0.039 m/s2
2
⎝ 8 ⎠

π ⎛ π ⎞ π ⎛ π ⎞ 2 π
(c) x(1s) = (0.25m)cos v(1s) = −(0.25m)⎜ Hz⎟ sin a(1s) = −(0.25m)⎜ Hz⎟ cos
8 ⎝ 8 ⎠ 8 ⎝ 8 ⎠ 8

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 A Traveling Wave: A wave traveling in the positive x-direction is pictured in Figure
13.27a. Find the amplitude, wavelength, speed, and period of the wave if it has a
frequency of 8.00 Hz. In Figure 13.27a, Δx = 40.0 cm and Δy = 15.0 cm.

frequency : f = 8.00Hz
Amplitude : A = Δy = 15.0 cm
Wavelength : λ = Δx = 40.0 cm
Speed : v = λ f = (0.40 m)(8.00Hz) = 3.2m/s
Period : P = 1/f = 1/8.00Hz = 0.125s

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 Sound and Light: A wave has a wavelength of 3.00 m. Calculate the
frequency of the wave if it is (a) a sound wave and (b) a light wave. Take
the speed of sound as 343 m/s and the speed of light as 3.00 × 108 m/s.

λ = 3.00m
v = λf ⇒ f = v / λ
343m/s
(a) Sound wave : f = v / λ = = 114.33Hz
3.00m
3 × 10 8 m/s
(b) Light wave : f = c / λ = = 100MHz
3.00m

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 A Pulse Traveling on a String: A uniform string has a mass M of 0.030 kg
and a length L of 6.00 m. Tension is maintained in the string by suspending
a block of mass m = 2.00 kg from one end (Fig. 13.28). (a) Find the speed of
a transverse wave pulse on this string. (b) Find the time it takes the pulse to
travel from the wall to the pulley. Neglect the mass of the hanging part of the
string.
F
The velocity of a wave on a string is : v = ,
µ
where F is the tension in the string and µ is the mass per unit length of the string.

Using Newton's 2nd Law : F = mg = (2.00kg)(9.8m/s2 ) = 19.6 N

Mass per unit length of the string : µ = 0.03kg/6.00m = 0.005 kg/m

19.6 N
v= = 62.6m/s
0.005 kg/m
t = (5m) /(10.44m/s) = 0.08s

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 Sound  Waves  
Example  :  You  drop  a  stone  in  a  7.35  m  deep  well.  How  long  before  
you  hear  the  splash?  
 Sound  Waves  
Example  :  You  drop  a  stone  in  a  7.35  m  deep  well.  How  long  before  
you  hear  the  splash?  
The equation of motion of the stone :
1 2 2 2d 2(7.35m)
d = gt1 ⇒ t1 = ⇒ t1 = 2 = 1.22 s
2 g 9.81 m/s
Time for sound from splash to reach you :
t 2 = d/v s = (3.75 m)/( 343 m/s) = 0.011 s
The total time is :
t = t1 + t 2 = 1.23 s