Math Stumpers

A bob is floating in a bowl of water which is suspended from a spring. The spring is extended slightly and then released, causing the system to display simple harmonic motion. Assuming the oscillations of the bowl are not big enough to splash the water out of the bowl and that water is incompressible:

a) Will the bob change its position with respect to the water (i.e., will its level of submergence ever change)? Why?

b) Will the fish in the bowl feel any effect?


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