Simple Harmonic Motion on Mass-Spring System

1. Period of a Mass-Spring System

We know that not all springs are created equal. And not all spring-mass systems are created
equal. One measurable quantity that can be used to distinguish one spring-mass system from
another is the period. The period is the time for a vibrating object to make one complete cycle
of vibration. The variables that effect the period of a spring-mass system are the mass and the
spring constant. The equation that relates these variables resembles the equation for the period
of a pendulum. The equation is
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋 √
𝑘

Kita tahu bahwa tidak semua pegas diciptakan sama dan tidak semua sistem pegas-massa
diciptakan sama. Satu kuantitas terukur yang dapat digunakan untuk membedakan satu sistem
pegas dari yang lain adalah periode. Periode adalah waktu untuk objek bergetar untuk
membuat satu siklus lengkap getaran. Variabel yang mempengaruhi periode sistem pegas-
massa adalah massa dan konstanta pegas. Persamaan yang berhubungan variabel-variabel
ini menyerupai persamaan untuk periode pendulum . Persamaannya adalah

𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋 √
𝑘

where T is the period, m is the mass of the object attached to the spring, and k is the spring
constant of the spring. The equation can be interpreted to mean that more massive objects will
vibrate with a longer period and springs with a greater spring constant have a smaller period.
Simple harmonic motion in a mass-spring system should start with a displacement of spring in
the form of pull or compression.

di mana T adalah periode, m adalah massa benda yang melekat pada pegas, dan k adalah
konstanta pegas dari pegas. Persamaan dapat diartikan bahwa objek yang besar akan
bergetar dengan periode yang lebih lama dan pegas dengan konstanta pegas yang lebih besar
 memiliki periode yang kecil. Gerak harmonik sederhana dalam sistem pegas-massa mulai
dengan perpindahan pegas dalam bentuk tarik atau kompresi.

2. Spring in Series and in Parallel

A mass-spring system can include more than one spring. In this case, the effective value of the
force constant should be found according to the way the spring are attached. This value is
required in the period relationship. If springs are attached to the end of one another as in figure
above:

(A. Springs in series) (B. Springs in parallel)

Assume that two vertical springs with force constants k1 and k2 are attached to each other as in
Figure A. when the spring below is stretched down with a force F, this force will act equally
on both of the springs, but as the force constants are different, the amounts of displacements
of the springs will be different. We can express this as follows:

F = k1 x1 and F = k2 x2

If the force F acts on a single spring which has the effect of the first and second springs here,
the spring will be stretched a distance x1 + x2, if we call the force constant as equivalent k or
keq, the formula for the force will be:
F = keq (x1 + x2)
 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹
From keq = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 , this will be keq = 𝑘 + 𝑘 . Thus, we obtain
1 2

1 1 1
= +
𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑘1 𝑘2

In other words, when n springs with constants 𝑘1 , 𝑘2 , 𝑘3 , … … … . . 𝑘𝑛 are attached in series,

Constant which is affected by all of the springs can be obtained from the equation below

1 1 1 1 1
= + + + ...+
𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑘1 𝑘2 𝑘3 𝑘𝑛

Now let’s calculate the force constant of the equivalent spring which has the same effect of
springs attached to the load in parallel (Figure B). When we stretch the springs with a force F,
this will stretch both of the springs a distance x. Because the constants 𝑘1 and 𝑘2 are different,
the force acting on each spring will be different. The sum of the applied forces F1 and F2 on
the springs is F. We can express this as:

F = F 1 + F2

If we write these forces separately,

F = 𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑥; F1 = 𝑘1 𝑥; F2 = 𝑘2 𝑥

From here we get

𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑥 = 𝑘1 𝑥 + 𝑘2 𝑥 or 𝑘𝑒𝑞 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2

So, to obtain the equivalent force constant (𝑘𝑒𝑞 ) of more than two springs attached in parallel
we use the formula;

𝑘𝑒𝑞 = 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 + 𝑘3 +. . . + 𝑘4