Physlet Illustration: Harmonic Motion of a Mass/Spring System

 

 

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A block is attached to a wall by a horizontal spring. The block rests on a frictionless floor. The distance grid is in meters and the times are shown in seconds. Pull or push the block away from its equilibrium location, and then push "Play" to watch it move back and forth. Study the graph of the block's displacement from equilibrium as a function of time. Determine the period and frequency of the block's motion.

Hints

  1. Using either the clock or the graph, measure the time that it takes the block to undergo one complete oscillation. For example, how long does it take the block to move from its point of maximum displacement on the right, back to the left and then back to its maximum displacement on the right again?
  2. The frequency (in Hz) is the inverse of the period (in seconds).

Reference

See Walker, Section 13-1

Illustration written by Steve Mellema