# Spring system diff eq.

1. Feb 24, 2013

### SithsNGiggles

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
(1) Suppose you have a spring with spring constant 4 N/m. You want to use it to weigh items. Assume no friction. You place the mass on the spring and put it in motion.
a) You count and find that the frequency is 0.8 Hz (cycles per second). What is the mass?
b) Find a formula for the mass m given the frequency ω in Hz.​

(2) Suppose we add possible friction to the previous situation. Further, suppose the spring constant is unknown, but you have two reference weights 1 kg and 2 kg to calibrate your setup. You put each in motion on your spring and measure the frequency. For the 1 kg weight you measured 1.1 Hz and for the 2 kg weight you measured 0.8 Hz.
a) Find k (spring constant) and c (damping constant).
b) Find a formula for the mass in terms of the frequency in Hz.
c) For an unknown object you measured 0.2 Hz, what is the mass of the object? Suppose that you know the mass of the unknown object is more than a kilogram.​

2. Relevant equations

$\omega=\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$

3. The attempt at a solution
• I'm not sure if this is right, but for 1(a) I use the above formula and I get
$0.8=\sqrt{\frac{4}{m}}\\ m=6.25$
• For 1(b), here's what I did:
$\omega=\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\Rightarrow m=\frac{k}{\omega^2}$
But this seems too simple.
• For 2(a), I tried to find k using the formula under "Relevant equations," but I get two different values of k:
$1.1=\sqrt{\frac{k}{1}}\Rightarrow k=1.21\\ 0.8=\sqrt{\frac{k}{2}}\Rightarrow k=1.28$
So I'm not really sure what's going on here.

Any input is appreciated, thanks!

2. Feb 24, 2013

### Dick

Not right. For one the units of ω in your formula aren't Hz. They are radians/s. There is some difference between them. For the second part there is another formula for ω that include the effect of damping. Try to look it up!

3. Feb 24, 2013

### SithsNGiggles

Ah, thanks, I've corrected the first part, in red. There doesn't appear to be any other formula for ω in my notes, though. I'll be on the lookout for it.

EDIT: also corrected 1(b)

Last edited: Feb 24, 2013
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