Mass of a Spring: Does it Affect the Period?

  • Thread starter Thread starter courtney1121
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Mass Spring
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the impact of a spring's mass on the period of a harmonic oscillator, specifically questioning whether this mass alters the period compared to theoretical predictions based on the equation T= 2*pi*sqrt(m/k).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between the mass of the spring and the spring constant k, with one participant suggesting that variations in k could influence the period. Questions about the concept of effective mass are also raised.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing resources and seeking clarification on the concept of effective mass. Some guidance has been provided through external links, but no consensus has been reached regarding the relationship between the spring's mass and the period.

Contextual Notes

Participants are encouraged to research further into the concept of effective mass, indicating a potential gap in understanding that is being addressed through external resources.

courtney1121
Messages
68
Reaction score
0
Any real spring has mass. Do you think that this mass would make the actual period of a real harmonic oscillator longer or shorter than the period predicted by the equation T= 2*pi*square root m/k. Explain your reasoning.

I think it will affect the period because I am thinking that the mass of the spring will determine the value for k. So if k is varying then, yes it will affect the period.

Does it make sense that the mass of the spring is related to k?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
This might give you a small clue: http://www.emporia.edu/physics/keithron/collegelab2/shm.htm" .
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What does the effective mass of the spring mean?
 
courtney1121 said:
What does the effective mass of the spring mean?

This is the point at which you should do some google-ing, since I'm powerless in further explanation. :wink:
 
lol ok and thanks so much for that website, it definitely helped. It was exactly what I was looking for.
 

Similar threads

Sliding block hits and compresses a spring
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Stretching of a rotating spring
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Period and Velocity of Oscillating Sphere Attached to Spring
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Distribution of Energy when work is done on a system of 2 masses connected by a spring
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Springs connected to a mass in series?
  • · Replies 56 ·
2
Replies
56
Views
5K
Derivation of the oscillation period for a vertical mass-spring system
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Time period of SHM & Energy conservation in pulley-spring-block system
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
Two spring-coupled masses in an electric field (one of the masses is charged)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Trouble understanding the influence of a real spring in a system
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Doubts about the method of determining the elastic constant of a spring
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K