# Homework Help: Angular frequency

1. Mar 17, 2009

### sArGe99

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Now, I've learned that the time period of a spring mass system having spring constant k and mass m is 2 $$\pi$$ (m/k)^1/2. What is actually the angular frequency of a vertical spring mass system. It is executing one-dimensional motion, how does it have angular frequency? And..don't we call it angular velocity rather than angular frequency?

2. Relevant equations

T = 2 $$\pi$$ (m/k)^1/2

3. The attempt at a solution
Checked a few books, none of them really explained it.

2. Mar 17, 2009

### sArGe99

Help please, I'm new to oscillations and waves.

3. Mar 18, 2009

### Redbelly98

Staff Emeritus
This is actually a good question, though I've never heard anyone ask it before.

Angular frequency is somewhat a misnomer. But it has come to mean the frequency (in terms of radians) of anything that oscillates sinusoidally.

Since spring - mass motion is described by
A sin(ωt),​
then the ωt term can be thought of as an angle--even though it doesn't represent the angle of any physical object.