Confused about a simple harmonic motion problem....

[Jordan Jones]

Homework Statement

A vertical block-spring system on Earth has a period of 6.0 s. What is the period of this same system on the moon where the acceleration due to gravity is roughly 1/6 that of earth?

Homework Equations

w = √(k/m)
w = (2Pi)/T
T = 2Pi*√(m/k)[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution

So I solved for the period using the first two equations and found that g does not play a role in the equation. From this I said that the period of the spring should stay the same on the mood because the acceleration due to gravity does not affect the period.

The answer key for the problem says 15 seconds but I have no idea how.

Any help here? Confused.

 

[haruspex]

found that g does not play a role in the equation. From this I said that the period of the spring should stay the same on the mood because the acceleration due to gravity does not affect the period.

Quite right.

The answer key for the problem says 15 seconds

Sounds like someone is confusing springs and pendulums.

 

[gneill]

I think that your answer key has it wrong. The period depends only on the mass and the spring constant.

My suggestion: burn the book and get another one

 

[ZapperZ]

Homework Statement

A vertical block-spring system on Earth has a period of 6.0 s. What is the period of this same system on the moon where the acceleration due to gravity is roughly 1/6 that of earth?

Homework Equations

w = √(k/m)
w = (2Pi)/T
T = 2Pi*√(m/k)[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution

So I solved for the period using the first two equations and found that g does not play a role in the equation. From this I said that the period of the spring should stay the same on the mood because the acceleration due to gravity does not affect the period.

The answer key for the problem says 15 seconds but I have no idea how.

Any help here? Confused.

Can you give us the full title, author/s, publisher, and publish date of the text that this came from?

BTW, to follow up with the question, the only difference that you see when you bring this spring-mass system to the moon is that the equilibrium position is different. The frequency and consequently, the period, of oscillation remain the same, as you have noted.

Zz.