Physics Help Forum calculation frequency of oscillation.

 Periodic and Circular Motion Periodic and Circular Motion Physics Help Forum

 Dec 14th 2016, 03:23 AM #1 Junior Member   Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 1 calculation frequency of oscillation. A particle of mass 10g is placed in potential field given by V= (50x^2+100)erg/g. what will be the frequency of oscillation? 2. Relevant equations n(frequency)=2pi(K/m)^1/2 3. The attempt at a solution F= -dU/dx . given is potential field. so dU/dx= (2*50x +0)=-100x. equating it with -Kx(since F= -Kx) , K=100. so omega(angular frequency)=(K/m)^1/2= (100/10)^1/2= 10^1/2. but the answer as given in the key of my text book is 100^1/2 for angular frequency, hows that possible? where did i go wrong?
Dec 14th 2016, 05:44 AM   #2
Physics Team

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Morristown, NJ USA
Posts: 2,289
 Originally Posted by harini A particle of mass 10g is placed in potential field given by V= (50x^2+100)erg/g. what will be the frequency of oscillation?

Note that the potential V is given in units of erg/gram. So for a mass of 10 grams the potential is $\displaystyle V = 10(50 x^2 + 100)$ erg, and $\displaystyle \frac {dV}{dx} = 10(100x)$ erg/m.

Last edited by ChipB; Dec 14th 2016 at 05:46 AM.