PHYS 1070 Study Guide - Color Vision, Wave, Diffraction Grating
15 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
Many objects in nature are subject when displaced slightly from their equilibrium position, to a force that is proportional to the displacement from equilibrium. If displaced slightly from equilibrium and then released, they will undergo a back and forth oscillatory motion known as simple harmonic motion (shm). When the mass is at the equilibrium position (x=0), the spring exerts no force on it and if the mass is released from rest at eq, it remains there. A stiff spring has a large k and a soft spring has a small one. F and x are n and m, k= n/m (expressed by a linear graph) Suppose a force is applied such that the mass is displaced from equilibrium at a constant velocity. With constant velocity, acceleration of the mass is zero so the net force must be zero (f=ma). Thus, the applied force must be equal to the force exerted by the spring but in the opposite direction.
