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View Full Version : What is differential equation of spring-mass system attached to one end of seesaw


Tahir Mushtaq
Aug31-09, 11:31 PM
case 1: Seesaw is balanced with its fulcrum point or pivotal point. At one end of seesaw, the spring (with spring constant K1) is attached. Now the seesaw has total mass M which is attached to spring, form a spring-mass system. I confuse on this point that the oscillation of seesaw will be around pivotal point. Then what is differential equation of spring-mass system.

case 2: The same case with both ends of Seesaw is attached with springs having spring constant K1 and K2. Then what is differential equation of this system.

Bacat
Sep1-09, 12:57 AM
1) What equations would be relevant to this problem?

2) What have you tried to do to solve it so far?

3) Hint: Can you derive an Equation of Motion for a simple mass-spring system (without a seesaw)? If so, can you consider the motion of the seesaw with the mass-spring system as a superposition of simple harmonic motion?

I cannot visualize your seesaw-spring system. If you can describe it better (or link to a picture), maybe I can help more.