A conventional spring scale registers the normal force which it exerts on the feet of the person being weighed. In the orbital

environment aboard the space$-$shuttle orbiter, such normal forces do not exist. Use your knowledge of vibration and explain how an

astronaut might "weigh" himself or herself.

One approach would be to hook himself or herself to a known spring anchored to the orbiter and then induce an oscillation. If the

astronaut uses a spring of constant $k=719\frac{N}{m},$ and measures the oscillation period as $T=1\mathrm{.}97s,$ what is his or her mass?

Answer: $m=$

kg