Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: @eslbright on 27/11/2010 12:30:12

Title: Why is a pendulum is affected by gravity and a mass on a spring is not?
Post by: @eslbright on 27/11/2010 12:30:12

@eslbright asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Why is it that a pendulum is affected by gravity (g is in the equation for time period) and a mass on a spring is not?

What do you think?

Title: Why is a pendulum is affected by gravity and a mass on a spring is not?
Post by: SteveFish on 27/11/2010 17:55:55

I can think of some situations in which a mass on a spring would be affected by gravity and others where it would not be affected.

Title: Why is a pendulum is affected by gravity and a mass on a spring is not?
Post by: granpa on 27/11/2010 22:37:25

instead of 'g' you have k which is the 'stiffness' of the spring

gravity creates the 'restoring force' for a pendulum but the spring creates the restoring force for a mass spring system

Title: Why is a pendulum is affected by gravity and a mass on a spring is not?
Post by: SteveFish on 28/11/2010 01:30:41

If you have a long tightly coiled spring fastened so that it is standing on its end, and fasten a weight on the top end of the spring, it will act like a pendulum when given a push. In this instance both gravity and the spring are involved as the weight rocks back and forth.