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What happens to the frequency of a simple harmonic oscillator when the spring constant is doubled? When the mass is doubled?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Doubling the spring constant increases the frequency by a factor of \( \sqrt{2}\), while doubling the mass decreases the frequency by a factor of \( \sqrt{2}\).

Step by step solution

01

Calculate the original frequency

The frequency of the oscillator is given by the formula \(f = \frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\). Let's suppose that the original values of k and m are denoted by \(k_{1}\) and \(m_{1}\) respectively. So, the original frequency \(f_{1}\) would be: \(f_{1} = \frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k_{1}}{m_{1}}}\).
02

Double the spring constant

As per the exercise, the spring constant is doubled. So, the new spring constant will be \(2k_{1}\). Substituting this into the frequency formula, the new frequency \(f_{2}\) would be: \(f_{2} = \frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{2k_{1}}{m_{1}}}\). By simplifying, we get \(f_{2} = \sqrt{2}f_{1}\). Hence, the frequency will increase by a factor of \( \sqrt{2}\) when the spring constant is doubled.
03

Double the mass

Now, when we double the mass in the same oscillator, the new mass will be \(2m_{1}\). Substituting this into the frequency formula, the new frequency \(f_{3}\) would be: \(f_{3} = \frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k_{1}}{2m_{1}}}\). By simplifying, we get \(f_{3} = \frac{f_{1}}{\sqrt{2}}\). Hence, the frequency will decrease by a factor of \( \sqrt{2}\) when the mass is doubled.

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