Oscillator Problem Maximum speed & amplitude

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an oscillator problem involving calculations of maximum speed and amplitude based on given displacements and speeds at those points. The subject area includes concepts from oscillatory motion and energy conservation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using conservation of energy to relate kinetic and potential energy at different displacements. There are attempts to derive the spring constant and angular frequency, with some questioning the correctness of their calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on using energy conservation principles, while others have made calculations regarding the spring constant and derived values for maximum speed and amplitude. There is ongoing exploration of these values without a clear consensus on their correctness.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with specific values for mass, speed, and displacement, but there is uncertainty regarding the spring constant and its implications for the calculations. The problem setup includes constraints typical of homework assignments, such as deriving unknowns from given data.

jjd101
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Homework Statement


A 800g oscillator has a speed of 120.0 cm/s when its displacement is 1.5 cm and 55.0 cm/s when its displacement is 8.0 cm.

a. What is the oscillator’s maximum speed?

b. What is the oscillator’s maximum amplitude?



Homework Equations



A= sqroot(X^2+(V^2/w^2)
Vmax=wA

The Attempt at a Solution



I attempted to find the angular frequency but even with w=sqroot(k/m) i couldn't find a way to solve for w
 
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Write expressions for the total energy for the two known points (sum of PE and KE). There will be a single unknown to solve for. After that you should be able to continue.

Conservation of energy is a powerful tool for these type of problems.
 
i did this and solved for the Spring constant since this is what is not given and got K=147.4 ? correct ?
 
jjd101 said:
i did this and solved for the Spring constant since this is what is not given and got K=147.4 ? correct ?

Yup. You should be able to continue "as usual" from here.
 
I did this and got max velocity as 121.7cm/s and max amplitude as 8.97cm. right?
 

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