What is the Period of Oscillation for a Spring Cut to One-Third Its Length?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the period of oscillation for a spring that has been cut to one-third of its original length. Participants are exploring the implications of this change on the spring's stiffness and oscillation characteristics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • One participant attempts to relate the new stiffness of the shortened spring to the original stiffness, suggesting a formula for the period of oscillation. Others question the validity of the resulting expression, noting potential issues with imaginary numbers in the calculations. There is also a query about the implications of the remaining length of the spring.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants raising concerns about the mathematical expressions derived and exploring the physical implications of cutting the spring. There is no clear consensus, but several lines of reasoning are being examined.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating assumptions about the behavior of springs under modification and the definitions of terms related to oscillation periods. There is an acknowledgment of confusion regarding the mathematical expressions used in the discussion.

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Homework Statement
A non-deformed spring whose ends are fixed has a stiffness
x = 13 N/m. A small body of mass m = 25 g is attached at the point
removed from one of the ends by n = 1/3 of the spring's length. Neg-
lecting the mass of the spring, find the period of small longitudinal
oscillations of the body. The force of gravity is assumed to be absent.
Relevant Equations
All below.
I am not sure if i get the problem, but if i understand, we want to know the period of oscillations on a spring with length l/3.

If is this the right interpretation, i would say that the stiffness of the new the spring is k/n, where k is the stiffness of the former spring.
This based on the knowing that the displacement of the points of the spring is proportional to the distance of the end, so to one force :

f = f, kx = k'xn, k' = k/n

T = 2π√(n*m/k)
The answer is, actually
T = 2π√(n*(1-n)m/k)
Where am i wrong?

1594524961396.png
 
Last edited:
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The answer you quoted is an imaginary number because ##\eta-1=-2/3## so I doubt it.
 
anuttarasammyak said:
The answer you show is an imaginary number so I doubt it.
Oh i made a confusion, actually is 1 - n instead n - 1
 
LCSphysicist said:
we want to know the period of oscillations on a spring with length l/3.
What about the other 2/3 of the spring?
 
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