Energy and the Simple Harmonic Oscillator (Problem 36)

Engineering Application Near the top of the Citigroup Center building in New York City, there is an object with mass of $4.00\times {10}^5\text{kg}$ on springs that have adjustable force constants. Its function is to dampen wind-driven oscillations of the building by oscillating at the same frequency as the building is being driven—the driving force is transferred to the object, which oscillates instead of the entire building. (a) What effective force constant should the springs have to make the object oscillate with a period of 2.00 s? (b) What energy is stored in the springs for a 2.00-m displacement from equilibrium? Select the answer to part (a).