OSCILLATIONS AND WAVES

ASSIGNMENT 3 April 19, 2023

1. Two massless springs A and B each of length a0 have spring

constants k1 and k2. Find the equivalent spring constant when
they are connected in (a) series and (b) parallel as shown in
Figure and a mass m is suspended from them.

2. A long light piece of spring steel is clamped at its lower end and a 1 kg ball is
fastened to its top end as shown in the figure. A force of 5 N is required to
displace the ball 10 cm to one side as shown in the figure. Assume that the
system executes SHM when released. (a) Find the force constant of the spring
for this type of motion. (b) Find the time period with which the ball vibrates
back and forth.

3. A vertical spring of length 2L and spring constant k is suspended at one end. A body of mass
m is attached to the other end of the spring. The spring is compressed to half its length and
then released. Determine the kinetic energy of the body, and its maximum value, in the ensuing
motion in the presence of the gravitational field.

4. A mass M is suspended at the end of a spring of length l and stiffness k. If the mass of the
spring is m and the velocity of an element dy of its length is proportional to its distance y from
the fixed end of the spring, calculate the kinetic energy of this element and the total kinetic
energy of the spring. From the total energy of the oscillating system, calculate the frequency
of the oscillation.

5. A point mass performs harmonic oscillations along a straight line with a period T = 0.8 s and
an amplitude A = 8 cm. Find the mean velocity of the point averaged over the time interval
during which it travels a distance A/2, starting from (i) the extreme position, (ii) the
equilibrium position.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------nkv