Question

A block is kept on a frictionless horizontal table and connected to a spring attached to a wall. Spring constant '$k$' is known but the mass of the block '$m$' is unknown. $X$ and $Y$ are the extreme positions of the motion and at $O$, the spring is in its natural length.

What other parameter should be known to find the value of mass '$m$'.

• A. The acceleration of the block at Point $O$
• B. The acceleration of the block at Point $Y$
• C. The speed of the block as ti passes through $O$
• D. The distance between $X$ and $Y$
• E. The time required for the block to travel from $X$ to $Y$

Answer 1

The correct option is E The time required for the block to travel from $X$ to $Y$

Here the frequency of the oscillation is $f=\frac{1}{2\pi }\sqrt{k/m}$

As force constant $k$ is known so we need f for calculating mass, $m$.

Here the time required to travel from $X$ to $Y$ is the time period. If we can know this time then we can calculate $f$.

Thus option E will correct.