When a mass on a spring is initially vibrated vertically, it can start to swing horizontally due to the pendulum effect, which is less damped than vertical motion. The vertical vibrations lose energy quickly as heat in the spring, while horizontal motion is primarily damped by air friction. If air friction is removed, the energy remains constant, but the horizontal motion does not increase significantly after vertical damping. The period of the horizontal swing is influenced by the length of the spring, which changes until it stabilizes. Understanding these dynamics reveals the complex interplay between mass, spring stretch, and motion.
