If I wanted to calculate the force constant and mass of a harmonic oscillator given an energy vs. time graph, how would I do it?
1 Answer
Here's what I would do.
You should be given the equilibrium spring length if you are to do this, or you can find it along the
I derive below to get
#k = (2overbrace((1/2 mv^2))^(K))/(r_e^2)# in#"kg/s"^2#
#m = (kT^2)/(4pi^2)# in#"kg"#
The equilibrium spring length can be found when the kinetic and potential energies balance out, i.e. at their intersection here:
So, let's say you knew the kinetic energy at the intersection. Then:
#overbrace(1/2 kr_e^2)^(U) = overbrace(1/2 mv^2)^(K) = "??? kg"cdot"m"^2"/s"^2#
#=> color(blue)(k = (2K)/(r_e^2))# where
#r_e# is the equilibrium spring length, whereas#A# would have been the maximum spring length. I would hope you are given#r_e# or you have a spring length vs. energy graph.
Then, one can use the relation
#omega^2 = k/m#
#=> m = k/(omega^2)#
and the angular frequency can be found from the period:
#omega = 2pi f# , where#f# is the frequency in#"s"^(-1)# ,
while the period is
#omega = (2pi)/T#
The period can be found from the graph by looking at the distance from crest/trough to crest/trough. So, this gives a final relation of:
#color(blue)(m) = k/((4pi^2)/T^2) = color(blue)((kT^2)/(4pi^2))#