Mass of a Spring: Does it Affect the Period?

In summary, the mass of a spring affects the period of a real harmonic oscillator, as the value for k is determined by the mass. The effective mass of the spring refers to the point at which the mass affects the period, and further research on the topic is recommended.
  • #1
courtney1121
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0
Any real spring has mass. Do you think that this mass would make the actual period of a real harmonic oscillator longer or shorter than the period predicted by the equation T= 2*pi*square root m/k. Explain your reasoning.

I think it will affect the period because I am thinking that the mass of the spring will determine the value for k. So if k is varying then, yes it will affect the period.

Does it make sense that the mass of the spring is related to k?
 
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  • #2
This might give you a small clue: http://www.emporia.edu/physics/keithron/collegelab2/shm.htm" .
 
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  • #3
What does the effective mass of the spring mean?
 
  • #4
courtney1121 said:
What does the effective mass of the spring mean?

This is the point at which you should do some google-ing, since I'm powerless in further explanation. :wink:
 
  • #5
lol ok and thanks so much for that website, it definitely helped. It was exactly what I was looking for.
 

1. What is the relationship between the mass of a spring and its period?

The mass of a spring does affect its period, meaning the time it takes for one complete cycle of oscillation. The period of a spring is directly proportional to the square root of its mass. This means that as the mass of the spring increases, the period also increases.

2. How does changing the mass of a spring affect its frequency?

The frequency of a spring is inversely proportional to the square root of its mass. This means that as the mass of the spring increases, the frequency decreases. This is because a heavier spring requires more force to oscillate, resulting in a slower back-and-forth motion.

3. What is the formula for calculating the period of a spring?

The formula for calculating the period of a spring is T = 2π√(m/k), where T is the period, m is the mass of the spring, and k is the spring constant. The spring constant is a measure of how stiff the spring is and is dependent on factors such as the material and length of the spring.

4. How does the length of a spring affect its period?

The length of a spring also affects its period. In general, a longer spring will have a longer period compared to a shorter spring, assuming they have the same mass and spring constant. This is because a longer spring has more distance to cover in each oscillation, resulting in a longer period.

5. Is there a limit to how much the mass of a spring can affect its period?

Yes, there is a limit to how much the mass of a spring can affect its period. This is because the period is also influenced by other factors such as the spring constant and the gravitational force acting on the mass. Additionally, as the mass of the spring increases, it may become too heavy for the spring to oscillate properly, resulting in inaccurate period calculations.

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