Does amplitude depend on mass in SHM?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 8K views
Mark Zhu
Messages
32
Reaction score
3

Homework Statement


Does amplitude of an oscillating spring with an attached block depend on the block's mass? Assuming the spring has spring constant 'k' and obeys Hooke's law. How would the amplitude of the oscillating spring system be affected if the mass of the block were increased/decreased?

Homework Equations


(1/2)mv^2 + (1/2)kx^2 = (1/2)kA^2

The Attempt at a Solution


The amplitude of a spring-block system should depend on the block's mass looking at the conservation of energy equation for SHM. Mass is directly proportional to amplitude.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
:welcome:If you initially stretch the system by "x" centimeters, which is essentially the amplitude ## A ##, does it matter what the mass ## m ## happens to be? ## \\ ## How does the system behave if you change ## m ## ? e.g. What kind of response does it have if ## m ## is very large? What if ## m ## is very small? ## \\ ## I'll give you a hint: The parameter that is affected is the frequency, (how fast it cycles back and forth), usually specified by ## \omega=2 \pi f ##.
 
Last edited: