A free undamped spring/mass system oscillates with a period of 4 seconds. When 10 pounds are removed from the spring, the system then has a period of 2 seconds. What was the weight of the original mass on the spring? (Round your answer to one decimal place.)

13.3 pounds.

Explanation:

For a spring of constant K, with an attached object of mass M, the period can be written as:

T = 2*π*√(M/K)

Where π = 3.14

First, we know that the period is 4 seconds, then we have:

4s = (2*π)*√(M/K)

We know that if the mass is reduced by 10lb, the period becomes 2s.

Then the new mass of the object will be: (M - 10lb)

Then the period equation becomes:

2s = (2*π)*√((M-10lb)/K)

So we have two equations:

4s = (2*π)*√(M/K)

2s = (2*π)*√((M-10lb)/K)

We want to solve this for M.

First, we need to isolate K in one of the equations.

Let's isolate K in the first one:

4s = (2*π)*√(M/K)

(4s/2*π) = √(M/K)

(2s/π)^2 = M/K

K = M/(2s/π)^2 = M*(π/2s)^2

Now we can replace it in the other equation.

2s = (2*π)*√((M-10lb)/K)

First, let's simplify the equation:

2s/(2*π) = √((M-10lb)/K)

1s/π =  √((M-10lb)/K)

(1s/π)^2 =  ((M-10lb)/K

K*(1s/π)^2 = M - 10lb

Now we can use the equation: K =  M*(π/2s)^2

then we get:

K*(1s/π)^2 = M - 10lb

(M*(π/2s)^2)*(1s/π)^2 = M - 10lb

M/4 = M - 10lb

10lb = M - M/4

10lb = (3/4)*M

10lb*(4/3) = M

13.3 lb = M

when two balls of the different masses are dropped from equal height, they reach the ground at the same time .this is because they experience the same acceleration.

the acceleration is independent of mass.

thus when they are dropped they will always maintain the same velocity and travel the same distance (neglect air resistance of course) at the same time.