# Simple Harmonics

1. Dec 5, 2007

### kevinr

[SOLVED] Simple Harmonics

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A 10.0 kg mass is traveling to the right with a speed of 2.40 m/s on a smooth horizontal surface when it collides with and sticks to a second 10.0 kg mass that is initially at rest but is attached to a light spring with force constant 75.0 N/m.

How long does it take the system to return the first time to the position it had immediately after the collision?

2. Relevant equations

?

3. The attempt at a solution

I am sort of confused about this. I found the f, A, T for subsequent oscillations but whats the difference between them and the first oscilation as asked by this question?

Thanks!

2. Dec 5, 2007

### dotman

Hello,

No difference. Say the mass is coming in from the right, it comes in and collides with the mass on the spring (which I'm assuming here is in equilibrium, position defined as x = 0). It sticks, and the moving mass has imparted some energy, which is going to displace the mass on the spring, which it has now stuck to. So the whole thing is going to compress the spring some amount, come to a stop, and then the spring is going to push it back out again, at which time it will again reach (and overshoot, of course) x = 0.

The problem wants to know what time that will occur. All oscillations will be the same, and will be defined by the (kinetic) energy the moving mass imparted onto the stationary mass/spring system.

Hope that helps. If you know f or T, you can find the answer, but you have to be careful about how they're defined. There are a few (fun!) ways to solve this problem.

3. Dec 5, 2007

### kevinr

"There are a few (fun!) ways to solve this problem." :D

I can't any find of the fun ways to do this problem. I know f and T but what do i do with that?

(im thinking that it since my T = 3.24, it should be less) right?

Last edited: Dec 5, 2007
4. Dec 5, 2007

### dotman

Hello,

Well, frequency and period are inverses($T = \frac{1}{\nu}$), so pick your poison-- I'd use period, since its already in seconds.

What is the period? Well, its the time that the system takes to complete one whole oscillation-- to compress the spring, spring back out, and come back to x=0. The tricky part, of course, is the fact that, assuming the mass was at x=0 at t=0, the mass will be at x=0 at t = T-- but this will not be the first time it is. Why not? You have to think about what's happening.

The hard way to solve the problem would be to find x(t) and calculate the first non-trivial x=0. Harder way, at least, IMHO. The first way I think is more clever, at least.

But both are fun!

Edit: PS: You're right, it will be less.

5. Dec 5, 2007

### kevinr

Ah ok thank you i got it now!