College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 10 - Problems - Page 401: 75

Answer

Since the value of $k$ is proportional to $m$, the angular frequency of a pendulum is independent of the mass. $\omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} = \sqrt{\frac{m~g}{L~m}} = \sqrt{\frac{g}{L}}$

Work Step by Step

For a simple pendulum, $\omega = \sqrt{\frac{g}{L}}$ Suppose that $\omega$ has the form $\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$. We can find an expression for $k$: $\frac{k}{m} = \frac{g}{L}$ $k = \frac{mg}{L}$ Since the value of $k$ is proportional to $m$, the angular frequency of a pendulum is independent of the mass. Note that $\omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} = \sqrt{\frac{m~g}{L~m}} = \sqrt{\frac{g}{L}}$
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