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Mechanics

Mass / Spring Oscillator

The elastic constant of the spring is k.

When the mass is displaced downwards (as shown above) the restoring force acting on it, F, is of magnitude kx, upwards.

If it is displaced upwards the net force is downwards. Therefore, we write

F = -kx

If the mass is released after having been given a displacement, x, then its acceleration will be

So (as we might have guessed !) the motion is s.h.m. and the constant relating acceleration to displacement is given by w² = k/m and, using T = 2p/w, we can calculate the time period of the motion.

 

 

© David Hoult 2008