Equilibrium of a Spring: Force or Mass?

AI Thread Summary
The equilibrium of a spring is defined as the state when it is in its natural uncompressed position, with no external force applied. When a mass is added, a new equilibrium point is established, which simplifies the analysis of vertical oscillations. This new equilibrium allows the spring to oscillate at the same frequency as it would in a horizontal position, but around this adjusted point. Understanding these concepts is crucial for solving problems related to spring dynamics. The distinction between the natural state and the mass-influenced state is key to analyzing spring behavior effectively.
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I was just wondering, is the equilibrium of a spring when there is no force applied or when there is a mass on it and it is in equilibrium?

Thankyou.
 
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The force comes from the compression of the spring, so equilibrium point is when the spring is in it's natural uncompressed state (x=0 is defined as this point).
 
Sometimes you can define a new equilibrium point for a spring that's got a mass hanging from it. This helps simplify vertical oscillation problems because the spring still oscillates at the same frequency it would if it were horizontally oriented, but it oscillates about its "new" equilibrium rather than its uncompressed equilibrium.
 

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