Question

Above a spring-mass system is pictured along with the amount of mass and the spring constant.
The system is set into oscillation.
What other information is needed (information that cannot be determined from the given information) to determine the maximum acceleration of the mass while oscillating?

• A. The period of oscillation
• B. The length of the spring
• C. The amplitude of oscillation
• D. The frequency of oscillation
• E. Enough information is given

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The amplitude of oscillation

Given : $m=5.0$ kg $k=1500$ N/m

Maximum acceleration of the mass $a_{max}=w^{2}A$ where $A$ is the amplitude of oscillation

Using $k=m{w}^2$ $⟹a_{max}=\frac{k}{m}A$

Hence value of amplitude of oscillation is also required to determine the maximum acceleration of the mass.