Identical Mass-Springs with Different Displacement

Identical Mass-Springs with Different Displacement#

Two identical springs are attached to two identical masses. Both masses are free to slide along a frictionless horizontal surface. One of the springs is displaced a distance \(d\) from its equilibrium position, while the other is displaced a distance \(2d\).

Using the same point of reference, Spring A is displaced a distance d from its equilibrium position while Spring B is displaced a distance 2d.

Part 1#

If both masses are released at the same instant, which of the springs, A or B, returns to its unstretched length first?

Answer Section#

  • Spring A

  • Spring B

  • It is a tie.

  • Not enough information is given.

Attribution#

Problem is licensed under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
The Creative Commons 4.0 license requiring attribution-BY, non-commercial-NC, and share-alike-SA license.