"A spring-block simple harmonic oscillator is set up so that the oscillations are vertical. The period of the motion is "T". If the spring and block are taken to the surface of the Moon, where the gravitational acceleration is 1/6 of its value here, then the vertical oscillations will have a period of...

A) T/6
B) T/3
C) T/(sqrt.6)
D) T
E) T(sqrt.6)"

Question

"A spring-block simple harmonic oscillator is set up so that the oscillations are vertical. The period of the motion is "T". If the spring and block are taken to the surface of the Moon, where the gravitational acceleration is 1/6 of its value here, then the vertical oscillations will have a period of... 

A) T/6
B) T/3
C) T/(sqrt.6)
D) T
E) T(sqrt.6)"

amonoconnor · Answer

@LastDayWork

lastdaywork · Answer

Time period of "...spring-block simple harmonic oscillator..." is independent of acceleration due to gravity...

A point to remember - all the forces which remain constant when the object is displaced from its equilibrium position have no effect on SHM..

amonoconnor · Answer

So gravity wouldn't change how fast it can return upwards, or how far it goes down?

lastdaywork · Answer

For an oscillator of normal length..we can consider gravity to be constant for its entire motion..

Increasing/decreasing gravity can change the equilibrium position but it won't effect the restoring force. Hence, the rest of the calculations for SHM will remain the same.

amonoconnor · Answer

Okay... I think  I get it.