Does Increasing Mass Affect the Natural Frequency of Vibration?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the relationship between mass and natural frequency in oscillatory systems. It is established that increasing mass (m) results in a decrease in natural frequency (ω), as described by the formula ω = √(k/m), where k represents stiffness. The inertia of the mass counteracts the force applied, making it more challenging to achieve vibration, thus lowering the natural frequency. The key takeaway is that natural frequency is inversely proportional to mass, confirming that as mass increases, natural frequency decreases.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly oscillatory motion.
  • Familiarity with the formula for natural frequency: ω = √(k/m).
  • Knowledge of Newton's Second Law of Motion.
  • Basic comprehension of spring-mass systems and their behavior during oscillation.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of stiffness (k) on natural frequency in various materials.
  • Explore the concept of damping in oscillatory systems and its impact on frequency.
  • Learn about harmonic oscillators and their applications in engineering.
  • Investigate the role of mass and stiffness in designing vibration isolation systems.
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, mechanical engineers, and anyone involved in the study of vibrations and oscillatory systems will benefit from this discussion.

Deepesh
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
TL;DR
This is regarding Stiffness and mass included in Vibrations subject and natural frequency of an object
My query here is,
Suppose there is a 2 kg mass
To oscillate it/vibrate it, it will take some force and it will have some natural frequency
Now I increase the mass to 5 kg
so to vibrate it, won't it take more force and so at the end, won't the natural frequency of the object increase? as its more heavy and requires more force to vibrate it?

Thanks in advance
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Hello Deepesh, :welcome: !

Deepesh said:
Summary:: This is regarding Stiffness and mass included in Vibrations subject and natural frequency of an object

My query here is,
Suppose there is a 2 kg mass
To oscillate it/vibrate it, it will take some force and it will have some natural frequency
Now I increase the mass to 5 kg
so to vibrate it, won't it take more force and so at the end, won't the natural frequency of the object increase? as its more heavy and requires more force to vibrate it?

Thanks in advance

Vibrations occur when there is an equilibrium situation and some restoring force that works towards this equilibrium. The simplest way to describe this in physics (mathematics) is $$m\ddot x + kx = 0$$with as solutions ##x = A\sin(\omega t + \phi)##. Substitution shows ##\omega^2 = \displaystyle {k\over m}##. In other words: frequency decreases when only ##m## increases.

And it increases when only ##k## (related to your stiffness) increases.
 
  • Like
Likes Lnewqban
If we can keep aside formulae for a second?
If you can explain it to me like what happens there practically?
If mass is increasing, isn't making difficult for the force to move/vibrate that body and thus shifting the natural frequency up?
 
Correct. Inertia wins.
 
Now if we come back to simple formula for natural frequency i.e omega= underoot (k/m)

If we increase mass here, the N.F would increase.
Inverse proportion

How does this relate to practically that we just discussed?

Thanks
 
I don't understand the question :confused:
 
Deepesh said:
Now if we come back to simple formula for natural frequency i.e omega= underoot (k/m)

If we increase mass here, the N.F would increase.
Inverse proportion

How does this relate to practically that we just discussed?

Thanks
If you replace mass2 with mass2 in that equation, being mass2 > mass1, the value of the natural frequency (1/seconds) decreases and the value of the period increases (if keeping amplitude and phase the same).
Period = 2 pi / natural frequency

It is only the Second law of Newton.
Taking a spring-mass harmonic vibration for example:
Let's stop when the both masses (small and big) are located at maximum displacement from the equilibrium position.
Both are being pulled towards that equilibrium position by forces of same magnitude, as both masses are attached to similar springs (k) suffering same deformation (x).
Basically, each mass is "loaded" at maximum acceleration and minimum speed.

Now, what happens when we release both masses at the same time?

Spring1 force = spring 2 force = mass1 * acceleration 1 = mass2 * acceleration 2
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
7K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
987
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K