Examples of

Frequency and Period Problems

Pendulum Problems
Spring Problems
Equations for Equation sheet for
Springs and Pendulum Problems

Examples of
Period Frequency
Problems

Frequency and Period Problem

(Without Period or Frequency given)

Terry Jumps up and down on a

trampoline 30 times in 55 seconds.
What is the frequency with which he
is jumping?
30 times
55 seconds
0.55 Hz

Frequency and Period

Conversion problem
Terry Jumps up
and down on a
trampoline with
a frequency of
1.5 Hz. What is
the period of
Terrys jumping?

1.5 Hz
0.67 sec

Examples of
Pendulum
Problems

Problem:
At the California Academy of Sciences the
length of the pendulum is:
90m = L
The acceleration of gravity at this location is:
9.8 m/s/s = g
What is the Period?

T=???? seconds

Solution
List:
L = 90m
g = 9.8 m/s/s
T=???? seconds
Choose equation:

Solve: Plug and Chug

90 m

9.8 m/s/s
9.18 s2
(3.03 s)
(19.0 s)

A problem where you

Find the period or frequency 1st

A pendulum has a length of 3 m and

executes 20 complete vibrations in
70 seconds.
Find the acceleration of gravity at
the location of the pendulum.

A pendulum has a length of 3 m and

executes 20 complete vibrations in 70
seconds. Find g.

1.
f = cycles / seconds
= 20 cycles / 70 seconds
= 0.286 hz
= 0.286 / sec
2.
T=1/f
= (1 / 0.286) seconds
= 3.5 seconds
What short cut could I have
used?

# vibrations

# seconds is
the time for all
the
oscillations

L = 3m and T= 3.5 seconds

Find the acceleration of gravity at the location

3.5 s = 2(3/g)
3.5 s = 6.28 (3/g)

Heads up!!
If you by 2
Use (2 ) !!

Square both sides

12.25 = 39.43 (3/g)
12.25 = 118.3/g
12.25(g) = 118.3
Divide by 12.25
g = 9.658 m/s/s

A problem Where
"g" = 9.8 m/s/s is understood
Know you use g=9.8 m/s/s if:
g not given or asked for used 9.8 m/s/s

Part 1: A simple pendulum has a period of 2.400

seconds where "g" = 9.810 m/s/s. Find the length?

Part 2: Find "g" where the period of the same

pendulum is 2.410 seconds at a different location.

Why are the items green on this problem??

Pendulum is not a variable,
why is it marked??
A simple pendulum has a period of 2.400
seconds where "g" = 9.810 m/s/s. Find the
length?

Find "g" where the period of the same

pendulum is 2.410 seconds at a different
location.

1st find the Length

A simple pendulum has a period of 2.400 seconds
where "g" = 9.810 m/s/s.

Write equation
T2=42 (L/g)
2.4002=4 2 (L/9.810) Substitute #s
2.4002= 39.44 (L/9.810) Square 4 2

39.44
2.4002(9.810) = L
And X 9.810
39.44

Answer
with
L=1.433 m
label

Part 2: Use Length from 1st part of problem

Same Pendulum, same length NOW:
Find "g" where the period of the pendulum is 2.410
seconds.

T2=42 (L/g)
2.4102= 42(1.433/g)
2.4102=39.44(1.433/g)
g 2.4102=39.44 (1.433)
g =39.44(1.433)/2.4102
g = 9.73 m/s/s

Equation
Substitute #s
4 2 =39.44
X by g
2.4102
Answer and
label

Examples of
Spring
Problems
Hookes Law
graphing

Examples of
using the graph
to find the Slope
and the value of k
for springs

What is the spring

constant for the data
graphed below?

x(m

Slope =
(6,147)

k=

y2 - y1
x2-x1

147N 49N
6 m 2m

(2,49)

(0,0)

k=

x(m
)
How do I know the Label??

Labels on axes:

Rise (N) & Run (m)

So:

rise/run is N/m !!

98 N
4m

k = 24.5 N/m

Examples of
Spring
Problems
Using
Equations

Examples of
Hookes Law problems

Stretch or compress at rest

In anticipation of her first game, Alesia pulls back
the handle of a pinball machine a distance of
5.0 cm. The force constant is 200 N/m. How
much force must Alesia exert?

Examples of Hookes Law problems

In anticipation of her first game, Alesia pulls back the handle of a pinball machine
a distance of 5.0 cm. The force constant is 200 N/m. How much force must
Alesia exert?

List:
x = 5.0 cm = .05 m
k = 200 N/m
Fsp=???

Fsp= k x
Fsp= 200N/m(0.05 m)
Fsp= 10N

Equation
Substitute #s
Answer with label

Example of Oscillation spring

Problems
Oscillating or bouncing
Bianca stands on a bathroom scale which
has a spring constant of 220 N/m. The
needle is bouncing from side to side.
Biancas mass is 180 kg. What is the period
of the vibrating needle attached to the
spring?

Example of Oscillation
Spring
Problem
List: k = 220 N/m
m = 180 kg

Bianca stands on a bathroom scale

which has a spring constant of 220
N/m. The needle is bouncing from
side to side. Biancas mass is 180
kg. What is the period of the
vibrating needle attached to the
spring?

T = ??

0.818 s2

180 kg

(0.904 s)

220N/m

5.7 sec

Spring Problems
Use Both Equations
Example of Combination of
Hookes Law and Oscillation of spring
Find k from Hookes Law and then use the
oscillation equation
Autumn, a young 20 kg girl, is playing on a
trampoline. The trampoline sinks down 9 cm when
she stands in the middle. What is the spring
constant?
If the trampoline then begins to bounce, what would
the frequency of the bounces be?

The PLAN:
Using Hookes Law and
Oscillation of spring

1st Find Force of Gravity on mass

Fg= m ag
2nd Find k from Hookes Law

Fsp= k x

Autumn, a young 20 kg girl, is playing

on a trampoline. The trampoline sinks
down 9 cm when she stands in the
middle. What is the spring
constant?
If the trampoline then begins to
bounce, what would the frequency
of the bounces be?

List :

m = 20 kg
x = 9 cm = 0.09

m
f = ??

3rd use the oscillation equation to

find T

4th convert to Frequency

Using
Hookes Law & Oscillation of
spring

1st Find Force of Gravity on mass

Autumn, a young 20 kg girl, is playing

on a trampoline. The trampoline sinks
down 9 cm when she stands in the
middle. What is the spring
constant?

List :

Fg= m ag

x = 9 cm =
0.09 m

Fg= 20kg(-9.8m/s/s)

f = ??

Fg= - 196 N
Recall
From the FBD on the Lab
SO. . .

m = 20 kg

FS = + 196 N

Example of Combination of
Hookes Law and Oscillation of
spring

Autumn, a young 20 kg girl, is playing

on a trampoline. The trampoline sinks
down 9 cm when she stands in the
middle. What is the spring
constant?

2nd Find k from Hookes Law

List :

Fsp= k x
196 N =k(0.09m)
2180 N/m = k

m = 20 kg

x = 9 cm =
0.09 m
Fs= 196 N
f= ??

Example of Combination of
Hookes Law and Oscillation
of spring

Autumn, a young 20 kg girl, is playing on a

trampoline. The trampoline sinks down 9 cm
when she stands in the middle. What is the
spring constant?

3rd use the oscillation equation

to find T

If the trampoline then begins to bounce, what

would the frequency of the bounces be?

List :

m = 20 kg

x = 9 cm =
0.09 m
Fs= 196 N
20 kg
2180 N/m

k = 2180 N/m
T=
f = ??

(0.958 s)
.00917 s2

.602 sec

Example of Combination of
Hookes Law and Oscillation
of spring

Autumn, a young 20 kg girl, is playing on a

trampoline. The trampoline sinks down 9 cm
when she stands in the middle. What is the
spring constant?
If the trampoline then begins to bounce, what
would the frequency of the bounces be?

4th convert to frequency

List :

m = 20 kg

x = 9 cm =
0.09 m
Fs= 196 N

.602 s

k = 2180 N/m
T = 0.602 sec
f = ??

1.66 Hz

Spring Problems
4 part Spring problem
Use Fg to find the k value and then use same
string with same k to find 2nd mass.

If two Grumpy Old Men went ice fishing and were

comparing their fish with the extension of the same
spring, solve the following spring problem: Grumpy
Sam caught the first fish and magically realized the fish
had a mass of 23 kg. When this fish was suspended on
the spring, like the one we suspended masses on in lab,
the spring stretched so it was 3 cm longer than it was
without the fish. What is the spring constant for the
spring? Grumpy Joe then caught a fish that caused
the same spring to extend 5 cm from the length of the
empty spring,. What was the mass of Grumpy
Joes fish?

The Plan to solve:

Example of 4 part Spring
problem
1st Use Fg to find the Force on the spring

2nd Use Hooke to find the k value

If two Grumpy Old Men went ice

fishing and were comparing their fish
with the extension of the same spring,
solve the following spring problem:
Grumpy Sam caught the first fish and
magically realized the fish had a mass
of 23 kg. When this fish was
suspended on the spring, like the one
we suspended masses on in lab, the
spring stretched so it was 3 cm longer
than it was without the fish. What is
the spring constant for the spring?

List :
3rd Same spring with same k to find 2nd Force

m = 23 kg
Fg= ??

x = 3 cm =
0.03 m
4th Convert weight to mass.

Fsp =

??

Examples of 4 part Spring

problem
List :

m = 23 kg
Fg=
x = 3 cm = 0.03

m
Fsp =

If two Grumpy Old Men went ice

fishing and were comparing their fish
with the extension of the same spring,
solve the following spring problem:
Grumpy Sam caught the first fish and
magically realized the fish had a mass
of 23 kg. When this fish was suspended
on the spring, like the one we
suspended masses on in lab, the spring
stretched so it was 3 cm longer than it
was without the fish. What is the
spring constant for the spring?

1st Use Fg to find the Force on the spring

Fg= m ag
Fg= 23kg(-9.8m/s/s)

- 225 N = - Fs

Fg= - 225 N

+ 225 N = + Fs

Examples of 4 part Spring

problem
List :

m = 23 kg
Fg= - 225 N
x = 3 cm = 0.03

m
Fsp = 225 N
2nd use Hooke to find the k value

Fsp= k x
225 N =k(0.03m)
7500 N/m =k

If two Grumpy Old Men went ice

fishing and were comparing their fish
with the extension of the same spring,
solve the following spring problem:
Grumpy Sam caught the first fish and
magically realized the fish had a mass
of 23 kg. When this fish was suspended
on the spring, like the one we
suspended masses on in lab, the spring
stretched so it was 3 cm longer than it
was without the fish. What is the
spring constant for the spring?

Examples of 4 part Spring

problem
List : m = ??? kg

Grumpy Joes Fish

NEW FORCE
NEW MASS
SAME SPRING!!

Fg= ???? N
x = 5 cm = 0.05
m
Fsp = ?? N
k = 7500 N/m

Grumpy Joe then caught a fish that

caused the same spring to extend 5 cm
from the length of the empty spring,.
What was the mass of Grumpy
Joes fish?

3rd same spring with same k to find other Force

Fsp= k x
Fsp = 7500N/m (0.05m)
Fsp = 375 N

Examples of 4 part Spring

problem
List : m = ??? kg
Fg= -375 N
x = 5 cm = 0.05
m
Fsp = 375 N
k = 7500 N/m

Grumpy Joes Fish

NEW FORCE
NEW MASS
SAME SPRING!!
Grumpy Joe then caught a fish that
caused the same spring to extend 5 cm
from the length of the empty spring,.
What was the mass of Grumpy
Joes fish?

4th convert weight to mass

Fg= m ag
- 375 N = - Fs

-375 N= m(-9.8m/s/s)

+ 375 N = + Fs

m= 38.3 kg

Equation
Sheet
Slides
for
Springs
and
Pendulums

Period and Frequency-notes

Hertz is unit that means 1/sec
Abbreviated ------- Hz
Mega Hertz FM radio Page 3 Space #4
Kilo Hertz AM radio

Period

# cycles

Hz
Sec-1
1/sec

# repetitions

# revolutions

Frequency

Period and Frequency

Hertz is unit that means 1/sec
Abbreviated ------- Hz
Mega Hertz FM radio Page 3 Space #5
Kilo Hertz AM radio

Period
Hz

Sec-1
1/sec

Frequency

Use when you

know
either T or f

Oscillations for Pendulums only-Notes

Length of the pendulum and gravity determine how fast
the pendulum oscillates back and forth.
Page 3 Space #6

Period

m/s/s
m/s2
Scalar-positive!!

Hz
Sec

-1

1/sec

All 3
equations
are the
same, just
re-arranged

Page 4 #1

Page 4 #2

Springs only
page 4 Space #3

Period and Frequency

Hertz is unit that means 1/sec ( Hz)

Hookes Law for Springs only

Springs only