All spiders have special organs that make them exquisitely sensitive to vibrations. Web spiders detect vibrations of their web to determine what has landed in their web, and where. In fact, spiders carefully adjust the tension of strands to “tune” their web. Suppose an insect lands and is trapped in a web. The silk of the web serves as the spring in a spring-mass system while the body of the insect is the mass. The frequency of oscillation depends on the restoring force of the web and the mass of the insect. Spiders respond more quickly to larger—and therefore more valuable—prey, which they can distinguish by the web’s oscillationfrequency. Suppose a 12 mg fly lands in the center of a horizontal spider’s web, causing the web to sag by 3.0 mm. If the web were vertical rather than horizontal, how would the frequency of oscillation be affected?A. The frequency would be higher.B. The frequency would be lower.C. The frequency would be the same.
Simple harmonic motion
Simple harmonic motion is a type of periodic motion in which an object undergoes oscillatory motion. The restoring force exerted by the object exhibiting SHM is proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position. The force is directed towards the mean position. We see many examples of SHM around us, common ones are the motion of a pendulum, spring and vibration of strings in musical instruments, and so on.
Simple Pendulum
A simple pendulum comprises a heavy mass (called bob) attached to one end of the weightless and flexible string.
Oscillation
In Physics, oscillation means a repetitive motion that happens in a variation with respect to time. There is usually a central value, where the object would be at rest. Additionally, there are two or more positions between which the repetitive motion takes place. In mathematics, oscillations can also be described as vibrations. The most common examples of oscillation that is seen in daily lives include the alternating current (AC) or the motion of a moving pendulum.
All spiders have special organs that make them exquisitely sensitive to vibrations. Web spiders detect vibrations of their web to determine what has landed in their web, and where. In fact, spiders carefully adjust the tension of strands to “tune” their web. Suppose an insect lands and is trapped in a web. The silk of the web serves as the spring in a spring-mass system while the body of the insect is the mass. The frequency of oscillation depends on the restoring force of the web and the mass of the insect. Spiders respond more quickly to larger—and therefore more valuable—prey, which they can distinguish by the web’s oscillationfrequency. Suppose a 12 mg fly lands in the center of a horizontal spider’s web, causing the web to sag by 3.0 mm.
If the web were vertical rather than horizontal, how would the frequency of oscillation be affected?
A. The frequency would be higher.
B. The frequency would be lower.
C. The frequency would be the same.
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