In this figure, v represents velocity, F represents force, KE represents kinetic energy, and
represents potential energy.
Vertical Oscillation of Springs
Now let’s consider a mass attached to a spring that is suspended from the ceiling. Questions of this
sort have a nasty habit of coming up on SAT II Physics. The oscillation of the spring when
compressed or extended won’t be any different, but we now have to take gravity into account.
Equilibrium Position
Because the mass will exert a gravitational force to stretch the spring downward a bit, the
equilibrium position will no longer be at x = 0 , but at x = –h, where h is the vertical displacement