Practice question
Question
Why does the frequency of a spring-mass system increase when a stiffer spring is used?
Explanation
**Oscillation of mass attached to spring** follows Hooke's law F = -k x, SHM with ω = √(k/m). Effective stiffness for two identical springs in parallel doubles, k_eff = 2k, increasing frequency by √2, while series halves stiffness to k/2, lowering frequency. Energy E = ½ k_eff A². Frequency v = (1/2π) √((k/m)) increases with a larger spring constant ( k ), as a stiffer spring (higher k ) provides a stronger restoring force, speeding up oscillations. Applying x = A cos(ωt + φ), v = -ωA sin(ωt + φ), a = -ω²x and E = ½kA² = ½mω²A², result The restoring force strengthens follows,
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