# Angular frequency

#### sArGe99

1. Homework Statement
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. Homework Equations

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

3. The Attempt at a Solution
Checked a few books, none of them really explained it.

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#### sArGe99

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

#### Redbelly98

Staff Emeritus
Homework Helper
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.

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