A website advertises a baby crib that can be hung from a spring. The crib can be set into vertical oscillation.
The instructions for the crib state that the crib can support a maximum mass of 15.0 kg.
i) When the crib supports a mass of 15.0 kg the spring extends by 42.5 cm.
Show that the stiffness of the spring is about 350 N m−1.
(2)
ii) A baby is placed in the crib and the spring extends to bring the system to equilibrium. The crib is displaced through a small vertical displacement and released.
State why the crib will oscillate with simple harmonic motion.
(2)
iii) The baby has a mass of 7.25 kg.
Calculate the period of oscillation of the crib.
mass of crib = 2.55 kg
stiffness of spring = 350 Nm−1
Period of oscillation of crib = .....................................(2)