Mass m is suspended by ideal massless springs in two arrangements (a) and (b). The vertical SHM frequencies are fₐ and fᵦ. Find fₐ/fᵦ, given k₂=2k₁.

Question

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Evaluate the effective stiffness for the vertical displacement in both arrangements using k₂=2k₁. The series/constraint factors in arrangement (a) and the symmetric branches in (b) give the same kₑ for the mass. Since f∝√kₑ, fₐ/fᵦ=1.