A hollow metal ball hangs on a long massless string. The device is driven by a small side-to-side oscillator with a constant very small amplitude and an adjustable frequency. The driver begins to oscillate at a very low frequency. The driver's frequency is then made to increase slowly and steadily. The frequency of the driver continues to increase regardless of what happens to the ball, eventually reaching very high frequencies. Predict what will happen to the ball over time as the driver frequency slowly increases.

Question

Boyer

Physics

29 July, 18:16

A hollow metal ball hangs on a long massless string. The device is driven by a small side-to-side oscillator with a constant very small amplitude and an adjustable frequency. The driver begins to oscillate at a very low frequency. The driver's frequency is then made to increase slowly and steadily. The frequency of the driver continues to increase regardless of what happens to the ball, eventually reaching very high frequencies. Predict what will happen to the ball over time as the driver frequency slowly increases.

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Answers (1)

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Lester · Answer 1

If the frequency is further increased (in a gradual manner), the amplitude of the oscillation of the ball would decrease.

Explanation:

As the frequency of driven force increases, the amplitude of the oscillation of the ball increases. This type of oscillation is referred to as forced oscillation.

At a particular higher frequency, the amplitude of oscillation becomes maximum. This frequency is referred to as the resonant frequency.

If the frequency is further increased (in a gradual manner), the amplitude of the oscillation of the ball would decrease.