- #1
Odyssey
- 87
- 0
Homework Statement
A bird lands near the tip of a branch and it is observed that initially it oscillates up and down, about once per second. Estimate how far the tip of the branch will be below its equilibrium position once the bird comes to rest.
Homework Equations
Newton's second law
Hooke's Law
The Attempt at a Solution
I am having trouble starting the question, and I guess that's drawing the free-body diagram of the bird.
I think the net force is in the y direction where F = T sin theta, where theta = arctan of y over L, y = vertical displacement from equilibrium and L is the length of the branch.
sin theta under small displacement is approximately tan theta which equals y/L.
This is the farthest I went. I guess it's still a long way to finding the position below equilibrium...