Body suspended from a linear spring

[Benzoate]

Homework Statement

When a body is suspended from a fixed point by a certain linear spring, the angular frequency of the vertical oscillations is found to be \Omega₁. When a different linear spring is used, the oscillations have angular frequency . \Omega₂. Find the angular frequency of vertical oscillations when two springs are used together in parallel.

Here is a link to the problem that provides hints to the problem: http://courses.ncsu.edu/py411/lec/001/: Go to the Homework section of the webpage, then go to assignment 5, then go to problem 5.2.

Homework Equations

F=k*_eff*\Delta x
\sqrt{k*_eff/m}=\Omega

The Attempt at a Solution

The hint to the problem says I need to calculate restoring force for each cases.

For the parallel case, would each of the two springs exert a contact force on each other since both bodies would be attached to two different springs?

For the series case, both bodies would be in line with each other; would body would behind or in front of the other body, while sharing an attached spring; therefore I know that there is definitely

\sqrt{k*(₁)/(m)}=\Omega₁ ==>

\Omega₁^2=k*₁/m}
\Omega₂^2=k*₂/m}

F₁= (\Omega₁^2)*m*\Delta x
F₂= (\Omega₂^2)*m*(\Delta x)

Not sure what my next step should be after that

 

[Benzoate]

anyone have a hard time reading my post?

 

[gabbagabbahey]

If the springs are attached in parallel, then the total restoring force is just F=F_1+F_2=k_{eff}\Delta x[/tex]. So what does that make k_{eff}? How about \Omega_{eff}?<br /> <br /> P.S. subscripts and superscripts in LaTeX are just A_{whatever} and A^{whatever}