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HeavyGuy
Oct25-09, 06:20 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

There was an investigation on how mass affected frequency and we had to plot this relationship.


2. Relevant equations
None


3. The attempt at a solution

I plotted frequency as the y-axis and mass as the x-axis. I got this weird parabolic shape opening upwards and I'm not quite sure if this is right at all. If someone could tell me the proportionality between these 2 factors, that'd be great. thanks
Delphi51
Oct25-09, 07:46 PM
Welcome to PF, HeavyGuy.
What was the apparatus?
If it was a spring, you could look up a spring formula relating f and m.
Likewise if it was a pendulum, or whatever.
Perhaps that is making it too easy. You might want to guess what the relationship is. Parabolic certainly suggests a square or a square root. Say you think the formula is f = k*mē. Then you compute mē for each data point and plot f vs mē. If your formula is correct, you'll get a straight line and its slope will be the k.
HeavyGuy
Oct25-09, 08:02 PM
Welcome to PF, HeavyGuy.
What was the apparatus?
If it was a spring, you could look up a spring formula relating f and m.
Likewise if it was a pendulum, or whatever.
Perhaps that is making it too easy. You might want to guess what the relationship is. Parabolic certainly suggests a square or a square root. Say you think the formula is f = k*mē. Then you compute mē for each data point and plot f vs mē. If your formula is correct, you'll get a straight line and its slope will be the k.

thanks for the reply. there was a mass attached to a mass and it was swung in a horizontal circular motion above the head. ill try to plot m^2 right now.
Delphi51
Oct25-09, 08:07 PM
I forgot the possibility that the frequency decreases as the mass increases. If you have this kind of thing going on, then you need to invert something, for example try f vs 1/mē.
HeavyGuy
Oct25-09, 08:16 PM
I forgot the possibility that the frequency decreases as the mass increases. If you have this kind of thing going on, then you need to invert something, for example try f vs 1/mē.

thanks a lot for your help. that is correct :)