Physics 6B

Oscillations Examples

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Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring?

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring?

We can use energy conservation for the first part,

setting the initial kinetic energy of the block equal to
the final potential energy stored in the spring.

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)

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Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring?

We can use energy conservation for the first part,

setting the initial kinetic energy of the block equal to
the final potential energy stored in the spring.
1 mv 2  1 k x 2 Δx
2 2

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring?

We can use energy conservation for the first part,

setting the initial kinetic energy of the block equal to
the final potential energy stored in the spring.

1 mv 2  1 k x 2 Δx
2 2
2
x 
2 mv
  x 
m
v
k k

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring?

We can use energy conservation for the first part,

setting the initial kinetic energy of the block equal to
the final potential energy stored in the spring.

1 mv 2  1 k x 2 Δx
2 2
2
x 
2 mv
  x 
m
v
k k

x 
0.98kg
245 N
 
 1.32 m  0.083m  8.3cm
s Block at rest (spring fully compressed)
m

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

For part b) we can use the formula for the period of

oscillation of a mass-on-a-spring:

m
T  2 Δx
k

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)

v=1.32

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

For part b) we can use the formula for the period of

oscillation of a mass-on-a-spring:

m
T  2 Δx
k

In this case we only want ¼ of the period.

0.98kg
T  2  0.4 sec Block at rest (spring fully compressed)
245 N
m
v=1.32
1 T  0.1sec
4

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Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

Part c) is easiest to understand using energy.

We know that Etotal = Kinetic + Potential.

Δx

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)

v=1.32

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

Part c) is easiest to understand using energy.

We know that Etotal = Kinetic + Potential.
We can also calculate the total energy from the
Δx
given initial speed:

2 2
 s
2

Etotal  1 mv02  1 0.98kg 1.32 m  0.85J

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)

v=1.32

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

Part c) is easiest to understand using energy.

We know that Etotal = Kinetic + Potential.
We can also calculate the total energy from the
Δx
given initial speed:

2 2
 s
2

Etotal  1 mv02  1 0.98kg 1.32 m  0.85J

Now we have to realize that when the kinetic and

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)
potential energies are equal, they are also each
equal to half of the total energy. v=1.32

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

Part c) is easiest to understand using energy.

We know that Etotal = Kinetic + Potential.
We can also calculate the total energy from the
Δx
given initial speed:

2 2
 s
2

Etotal  1 mv02  1 0.98kg 1.32 m  0.85J

Now we have to realize that when the kinetic and

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)
potential energies are equal, they are also each
equal to half of the total energy. v=1.32
Since we want to find the compression distance, we
should use the formula involving potential energy:
1E
total  1 kx 2
2 2

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 1
A 0.98 kg block slides on a frictionless horizontal surface with speed 1.32m/s. The block encounters an
unstretched spring with force constant 245N/m, as shown.

a) how far is the spring compressed before the block comes to rest?
b) how long is the block in contact with the spring before it comes to rest?
c) how far is the spring compressed when the kinetic energy of the block is equal to the potential energy stored in
the spring? v=1.32

Part c) is easiest to understand using energy.

We know that Etotal = Kinetic + Potential.
We can also calculate the total energy from the
Δx
given initial speed:

2 2
 s
2

Etotal  1 mv02  1 0.98kg 1.32 m  0.85J

Now we have to realize that since the kinetic and

Block at rest (spring fully compressed)
potential energies are equal, they are also each
equal to half of the total energy. v=1.32
Since we want to find the compression distance, we
should use the formula involving potential energy:

1E
total  1 kx 2
2 2
Etotal 0.85J
x   0.06m  6cm
k 245 N
m

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Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

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Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

If we consider all the forces acting on the mass when it is hanging at

rest we see that the weight must cancel the spring force.

So if we can find the spring constant k, we can solve for x.

? kx

mg

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

If we consider all the forces acting on the mass when it is hanging at

rest we see that the weight must cancel the spring force.

So if we can find the spring constant k, we can solve for x.

Use the formula for the period of a mass-spring system:

? kx
2 2
m T m  2 
T  2      k  m 
k  2  k T

mg

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Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

If we consider all the forces acting on the mass when it is hanging at

rest we see that the weight must cancel the spring force.

So if we can find the spring constant k, we can solve for x.

Use the formula for the period of a mass-spring system:

? kx
2 2
m T m  2 
T  2      k  m 
k  2  k T

Plugging in the given values we get k  8.18 N

m mg

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

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Assistance Services at UCSB
Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

If we consider all the forces acting on the mass when it is hanging at

rest we see that the weight must cancel the spring force.

So if we can find the spring constant k, we can solve for x.

Use the formula for the period of a mass-spring system:

? kx
2 2
m T m  2 
T  2      k  m 
k  2  k T

Plugging in the given values we get k  8.18 N

m mg
Now we can use Fspring=weight:
mg
kx  mg  x 
k

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Example 2
A 0.260kg mass is attached to a vertical spring. When the mass is put into motion, its period is 1.12sec.

How much does the mass stretch the spring when it is at rest in its equilibrium position?

If we consider all the forces acting on the mass when it is hanging at

rest we see that the weight must cancel the spring force.

So if we can find the spring constant k, we can solve for x.

Use the formula for the period of a mass-spring system:

? kx
2 2
m T m  2 
T  2      k  m 
k  2  k T

Plugging in the given values we get k  8.18 N

m mg
Now we can use Fspring=weight:
mg
kx  mg  x 
k
0.26kg 9.8 m2 
x  s 
 0.31m  31cm
8.18 N
m

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11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

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11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

Here is a diagram of the pendulum.

θ

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11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

Here is a diagram of the pendulum. We have a formula

for the period of this pendulum: θ
L
T  2
g

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

Here is a diagram of the pendulum. We have a formula

for the period of this pendulum: θ
L
T  2
g

We can solve this for the length:

2 2
L L  T  T 
T  2      L  g 
g g  2   2 

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For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

Here is a diagram of the pendulum. We have a formula

for the period of this pendulum: θ
L
T  2
g

We can solve this for the length:

2 2
L L  T  T 
T  2      L  g 
g g  2   2 

What value should we use for the period?

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For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

Here is a diagram of the pendulum. We have a formula

for the period of this pendulum: θ
L
T  2
g

We can solve this for the length:

2 2
L L  T  T 
T  2      L  g 
g g  2   2 

What value should we use for the period?

We are given a time of 1.13s to go from max angle
to the lowest point. This is only ¼ of a full cycle.

So we multiply by 4: T = 4.52s

Prepared by Vince Zaccone

For Campus Learning
Assistance Services at UCSB
11.46 You want to construct a simple pendulum with a 3.25kg bob that will take 1.13sec to swing from a
maximum angle of 9.5° to its lowest point after being released from rest. How long should this pendulum be?

Here is a diagram of the pendulum. We have a formula

for the period of this pendulum: θ
L
T  2
g

We can solve this for the length:

2 2
L L  T  T 
T  2      L  g 
g g  2   2 

What value should we use for the period?

We are given a time of 1.13s to go from max angle
to the lowest point. This is only ¼ of a full cycle.

So we multiply by 4: T = 4.52s

Now we can plug in to get our answer:

2
 4.52s 
L   9.8 m2    5.07m
 s  2 

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