A cylindrical wooden rod with diameter 2 cm and length 8 cm has a specific gravity of 0.85 and floats vertically in fresh water. If you push down on the rod until its top surface is even with the water surface, and then release, the rod will oscillate vertically in the water with approximately Simple Harmonic Motion. A) Write the differential equation describing the oscillating mass and B) calculate the frequency at which the mass bobs up and down in the water. (HINT: Use the examples of various types of SHM we covered in class as a model for setting up your equation.)

A cylindrical wooden rod with diameter 2 cm and length 8 cm has a specific gravity of 0.85 and floats vertically in fresh water. If you push down on the rod until its top surface is even with the water surface, and then release, the rod will oscillate vertically in the water with approximately Simple Harmonic Motion. A) Write the differential equation describing the oscillating mass and B) calculate the frequency at which the mass bobs up and down in the water. (HINT: Use the examples of various types of SHM we covered in class as a model for setting up your equation.)