A spring-mass system is really a spring system in which a block is hung or attached at the free end of the spring. The spring-mass system has been commonly used to determine the period of any object performing the simple harmonic motion. The spring-mass system is really useful for a variety of other applications. For example, a spring-mass system can be used to simulate the motion of human tendons as well as foot skin deformation using computer graphics.
If the masses and springs are the same, both vertical and horizontal spring-mass systems without friction oscillate identically around an equilibrium position. Even so, when it comes to vertical springs, we must keep in mind that gravity stretches or compresses the spring beyond its natural length to reach the equilibrium position. Once we’ve determined the displaced position, we can set it to y=0 and consider the vertical spring in the same way we would a horizontal spring.
One spring-mass system that could be used to isolate vibrating equipment from its support structure, is based on a theory that assumes the support structure is extremely stiff. Actually, it’s indeed very critical to build support systems that are stiff in comparison to the isolator deflection and to minimize radiation from lightweight diaphragms.
Most systems with mass and elasticity can experience free vibration or vibration that occurs in the absence of external excitation. The natural frequency of vibration of such a system is of primary interest. A simple oscillatory system’s basic vibration model consists of a mass, a massless spring, and a damper. If moderate damping has little effect on the natural frequency, it can be ignored. As a result, the system can be considered conservative. The most basic free vibration system is an undamped spring-mass system.
Overall, if a constant force co-linear with the spring force is applied to the mass, it will exhibit simple harmonic motion (in this case, gravity). To put it another way, a vertical spring-mass system will experience simple harmonic motion in the vertical direction about the equilibrium position.
A spring-mass system is a setup where a mass is attached to a spring. This system is commonly used to study motion and forces in physics. The spring can stretch or compress, and the mass moves back and forth due to the force from the spring.
Spring: A flexible object that can stretch or compress when a force is applied. It follows Hooke’s Law, which says:
F=-X.Y
where:
When the spring is stretched or compressed, it exerts a restoring force that tries to bring the mass back to the equilibrium position. This causes the mass to move back and forth in a motion called simple harmonic motion (SHM).
There are two types of energy in the system:
The total energy keeps transferring between PE and KE as the mass moves.
The time period seems to be directly proportional to the mass of the body attached to the spring. It thus means that if a heavier object, such as a truck, is attached to it, it will oscillate slowly.
Mass-spring systems serve as the physical foundation for modelling and solving a wide range of engineering problems. Of this kind models are used in the design of building structures, as well as in the development of sportswear, for example.
After being displaced, a mass suspended on a spring will oscillate. The amount of mass and the stiffness of the spring influence the period of oscillation. One such experiment investigates the period, displacement, velocity, and acceleration by data logging the output of a motion sensor.
