What is the angular frequency ω for a mass-spring system with m = 1 kg and k = 16 N/m?

What is the angular frequency ω for a mass-spring system with m = 1 kg and k = 16 N/m?

• A. 4 rad/s
• B. 2 rad/s
• C. 8 rad/s
• D. 1 rad/s

Answer: (A)

For a mass-spring system in simple harmonic motion, the angular frequency follows ω = sqrt(k/m). Here k is 16 N/m and m is 1 kg, so k/m = 16, and ω = sqrt(16) = 4 rad/s. The units work out as s^-2 under the square root, giving rad/s. If you wanted the period, you could find T = 2π/ω = 2π/4 = π/2 seconds, but the question asked for angular frequency, which is 4 rad/s.

For a mass-spring system in simple harmonic motion, the angular frequency follows ω = sqrt(k/m). Here k is 16 N/m and m is 1 kg, so k/m = 16, and ω = sqrt(16) = 4 rad/s. The units work out as s^-2 under the square root, giving rad/s. If you wanted the period, you could find T = 2π/ω = 2π/4 = π/2 seconds, but the question asked for angular frequency, which is 4 rad/s.