Final answer:
To find the force constant needed to produce a period of 0.25 s for a 0.018-kg mass on a spring, we can use the formula T = 2π√(m/k). Rearranging the formula and plugging in the given values will give us the force constant k.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force constant, also known as the spring constant, is a measure of how stiff a spring is. It is denoted by the letter k. In this problem, we are given the period T of the oscillations and the mass m of the cherub clock, and we need to find the force constant k. The formula relating the period, mass, and force constant of a mass-spring system is: T = 2π√(m/k).
Plugging in the given values, we have: 0.25 s = 2π√(0.018 kg/k). Rearranging the formula to solve for k, we get: k = (2π)^2 x (0.018 kg) / (0.25 s)^2. Evaluating this expression gives us the force constant k.