Spring oscillations determining period of motion

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the period of motion and the mass of a system involving a spring with a known spring constant and amplitude. The user initially struggled with using kinematic equations and sought clarification on whether the system is damped or undamped. It was clarified that if the system is undamped, the amplitude does not affect the frequency, which can be determined using the formula for frequency based on the spring constant and mass. Additionally, the kinetic energy of the mass can be used to derive the mass value, given the known work done by the spring. The conversation emphasizes the mathematical relationships in oscillatory motion and the characteristics of undamped systems.
biga415
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Hey guys, i can't figure this one out.

a mass attached to a spring oscillates with an amplitude of 18cm; the spring constant is k=18N/m. when the position is half the maximum value, the mass moves with velocity v=27cm/s.
a) determine the period of motion.

b)find the value of mass

i tried to find the mass first but that didnt work. i used kinematics, T= 2∏/ω, ω=sqrt(m/k) and T= 2∏sqrt(m/k) but none of them were working.

thanks for the help!
 
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Is this a damped system or undamped?

If it is undamped, then the amplitude of oscillation is irrelevant, and the frequency is sqrt(k/m). Find m from the kinetic energy of the mass. You know how much the energy is because you know the work done by the spring during half of the amplitude.

P.S. You also know it will be a sine wave for an undamped system, and you know the amplitude of the wave and derivative at a point. You can calculate it that way too if you'd like.
 
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