Question

A free undamped spring/mass system oscillates with a period of 4 seconds. When 10 pounds are removed from the spring, the system then has a period of 2 seconds. What was the weight of the original mass on the spring? (Round your answer to one decimal place.)

Answer 1

13.3 pounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a spring of constant K, with an attached object of mass M, the period can be written as:

T = 2*π*√(M/K)

Where π = 3.14

First, we know that the period is 4 seconds, then we have:

4s = (2*π)*√(M/K)

We know that if the mass is reduced by 10lb, the period becomes 2s.

Then the new mass of the object will be: (M - 10lb)

Then the period equation becomes:

2s = (2*π)*√((M-10lb)/K)

So we have two equations:

4s = (2*π)*√(M/K)

2s = (2*π)*√((M-10lb)/K)

We want to solve this for M.

First, we need to isolate K in one of the equations.

Let's isolate K in the first one:

4s = (2*π)*√(M/K)

(4s/2*π) = √(M/K)

(2s/π)^2 = M/K

K = M/(2s/π)^2 = M*(π/2s)^2

Now we can replace it in the other equation.

2s = (2*π)*√((M-10lb)/K)

First, let's simplify the equation:

2s/(2*π) = √((M-10lb)/K)

1s/π = √((M-10lb)/K)

(1s/π)^2 = ((M-10lb)/K

K*(1s/π)^2 = M - 10lb

Now we can use the equation: K = M*(π/2s)^2

then we get:

K*(1s/π)^2 = M - 10lb

(M*(π/2s)^2)*(1s/π)^2 = M - 10lb

M/4 = M - 10lb

10lb = M - M/4

10lb = (3/4)*M

10lb*(4/3) = M

13.3 lb = M