Is a Vertically Hung Spring Mass System SHM?

[SANGEETAMILIND]

In an SHM, the only force that should be acting, that is the net force should be the restoring force F, by definition...
F = -kx

For example there is a massless spring of spring constant k attached to the ceiling and there is a body of mass m hung at it and avoiding all kinds of friction...

Due to the weight of the body the equilibrium mean position will be shifted...
numerically it would become
x_o = (mg/k)
{considering the the original mean position to be 0}

angular frequency and time period would still be the same as in the SHM motion performed by the spring if it were kept horizontally at natural length.

But by definition of Simple Harmonic Oscillators
F= -kx should be the only force... and in the vertically hung spring mass system 'mg' is also acting, not withstanding that the motion is exactly like the SHM with a different equilibrium position.
Would it still be considered as a simple harmonic oscillator?

 

[mfig]

Your definition of SHM is not quite right. Simple harmonic motion is a variety of periodic motion that results when the restoring force is proportional to displacement from equilibrium. The gravitational force is not a restoring force.

 

[jbriggs444]

Yes, this still gives simple harmonic motion. The net force is still given by F = -kx where x is the deviation from the equilibrium position. The fact that the net force is a combination of the spring force plus gravity and the fact that the equilibrium length of the spring is not the same as its unstressed length is irrelevant.

 

[SANGEETAMILIND]

Yes, this still gives simple harmonic motion. The net force is still given by F = -kx where x is the deviation from the equilibrium position. The fact that the net force is a combination of the spring force plus gravity and the fact that the equilibrium length of the spring is not the same as its unstressed length is irrelevant.

For a Simple Harmonic Oscillator...

the net force is the restoring force which is F ∝ -x.

But in the above scenario, the net restoring force is the combination of Gravity and Spring Force and thus not directly proportional to displacement...

So would it be called a Simple Harmonic Oscillator or just a Harmonic Oscillator?

 

[jtbell]

But in the above scenario, the net restoring force is the combination of Gravity and Spring Force

True.

and thus not directly proportional to displacement...

How do you figure that, mathematically?

 

[SANGEETAMILIND]

True.

How do you figure that, mathematically?

the net force is
F = -(kx + mg)

can you call it as F ∝ -x?

 

[jbriggs444]

But in the above scenario, the net restoring force is the combination of Gravity and Spring Force and thus not directly proportional to displacement..

Yes, it is directly proportional to displacement from the equilibrium position.

 

[jtbell]

OK, let's go through this step by step. We have a mass hanging vertically from a spring under the influence of gravity. If we could "turn off" gravity, the mass would "hang" at a certain vertical position corresponding to the equilibrium length of the spring alone. Call this vertical position x = 0. Let x be positive upwards and negative downwards.

Now "turn on" gravity. It pulls the mass down. Let it come to rest at a new equilibrium position, call it x = x₀. At this position the net force on the mass is zero: F_net = -kx₀ - mg = 0. Note that x₀ is negative so -kx₀ is positive (upwards). The spring pulls the mass upwards and gravity pulls the mass downwards.

Now pull the mass down to a new position x and release it. Immediately after release:

(a) What is F_net on the mass now?

(b) What is the displacement from the equilibrium position (the one with gravity turned on)?

(c) Write F_net in part (a) in terms of the displacement in part (b).

 

[jtbell]

(a) What is Fnet on the mass now?

the net force is
F = -(kx + mg)

OK.