Gravity and periods of oscillation

In summary, gravity is a fundamental force in the universe that brings objects with mass towards one another. It affects the period of oscillation, including the period of a pendulum and simple harmonic motion, by altering an object's acceleration and velocity. The period of a planet's orbit is also determined by the strength of gravity, as stated in Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion.
  • #1
dboy83
34
0
a mass hanging from a vertical spring and a simple pendulum each have a period of oscillation of 1 sec. If you were to take these devices to another planet where the acceleration due to gravity is greater than on earth, would the period of each device be greater than 1 sec , less than 1 sec, or the same? why?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Is this a homework question? What do you think the answer is?
 
  • #3
Imagine you are on a planet with EXTREMELY strong gravity. Picture this in your mind.
 

What is gravity?

Gravity is a natural phenomenon by which all objects with mass are brought toward one another. It is a fundamental force in the universe and is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around stars, moons around planets, and objects on Earth from floating away into space.

How does gravity affect periods of oscillation?

Gravity plays a significant role in determining the period of oscillation, which is the time it takes for an object to complete one full cycle of motion. The strength of gravity can affect the acceleration and velocity of an object, which in turn affects the period of oscillation.

What is the relationship between gravity and the period of a pendulum?

The period of a pendulum is directly proportional to the square root of its length and inversely proportional to the square root of the acceleration due to gravity. This means that an increase in the length of a pendulum will result in a longer period, while a decrease in the strength of gravity will result in a shorter period.

Can gravity affect the period of a simple harmonic motion?

Yes, gravity can affect the period of simple harmonic motion. Simple harmonic motion is a type of periodic motion in which the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement from equilibrium. Since the strength of gravity can affect the acceleration and velocity of an object, it can also alter the restoring force and therefore impact the period of the motion.

What is the relationship between gravity and the period of a planet's orbit?

The period of a planet's orbit is determined by the gravitational pull of the star it is orbiting. According to Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion, the square of a planet's orbital period is directly proportional to the cube of its average distance from the sun. This means that a stronger gravitational force from the sun will result in a shorter orbital period for the planet.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
14
Views
486
  • Classical Physics
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
  • Other Physics Topics
Replies
30
Views
3K
  • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • Other Physics Topics
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
9
Views
705
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
793
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
7
Views
783
Back
Top