Home » Ask & Discuss » Physics. » Mechanics « Back to Discussion

Mechanics

New kid on the Block

Joined:	1 Sep 2008
Post:	23

7 Jul 2009 15:52:37 IST

0 People liked this

897

what is the significance of reduced mass in simple harmonic motion

Kinematics , NewtonsLawsCirMotion , Work Power Energy collisions , Rotation , Gravitation , Simple Harmonic Motion , Fluid Mechanics , Materials Wave Sound , Super Position , units dimensions , com momentum , shm , wave sound

what is the significance of reduced mass in simple harmonic motion

Share this article on:

Comments (6)

U V

Blazing goIITian

Joined: 26 Oct 2007

Posts: 1018

7 Jul 2009 15:53:18 IST

Like 0 people liked this

u can solve the problem comparatively easily...

Bikramjit

Blazing goIITian

Joined: 14 Dec 2008

Posts: 324

7 Jul 2009 21:55:01 IST

Like 1 people liked this

when two bodies oscillate simultaneously, then there is some change in the pattern of SHM.......the effective weight seems lighter than the both added.............then after many researchs,,,,the formula of reduced mass came...........I will suggest to u to remember that one ,simply

navneet singh

Blazing goIITian

Joined: 7 Feb 2008

Posts: 326

7 Jul 2009 21:56:28 IST

Like 0 people liked this

what is this...???

Bikramjit

Blazing goIITian

Joined: 14 Dec 2008

Posts: 324

7 Jul 2009 22:14:45 IST

Like 0 people liked this

this is reduced mass

edison

Forum Expert

Joined: 19 Oct 2006

Posts: 7537

10 Jul 2009 17:53:47 IST

Like 1 people liked this

Reduced Mass

The relative motion of two objects that are acted upon by a central force can be described by Newton's 2nd Law as if they were a single mass with a value called the "reduced mass".

From Newton's 3rd Law :

The relative acceleration of the two masses is

Since a₂ is negative, this can be rewritten in terms of the magnitudes of the quantities:

BALGANESH

Blazing goIITian

Joined: 21 Dec 2007

Posts: 1025

11 Jul 2009 14:29:35 IST

Like 1 people liked this

for example u can consider two bodies of mass 4kg and 3 kg conencted to each other by a spring

so now if u want to solve any problem based on this and if u follow teh regular method it gets complicated

instead u can replace the system by a single body connected to the same spring of mass = 4*3/4+3 =12/7

this is called reduced mass

Quick Reply

Reply

	Some HTML allowed.
	Keep your comments above the belt or risk having them deleted.
	Signup for a avatar to have your pictures show up by your comment
	If Members see a thread that violates the Posting Rules, bring it to the attention of the Moderator Team