Spring, Damper, Mass: What does a Mass Do?

[chandran]

My observations

1)a spring gives a force proportional to the relative displacement of its ends

2)a damper gives a force proportional to the relative velocity of its ends

What does a mass do

I read in a theory that a mass gives a force proportional to its acceleration
and this force is called inertial force.

But my understanding is that when a force is applied by some agent to a mass it will accelerate. How is that a mass itself applies a force?

 

[Doc Al]

What does a mass do

Think of mass as providing a resistance to changes in motion.

I read in a theory that a mass gives a force proportional to its acceleration
and this force is called inertial force.

Inertial forces only appear as an artifact of viewing things from a noninertial (accelerated) reference frame. (Which is often very useful.)

But my understanding is that when a force is applied by some agent to a mass it will accelerate. How is that a mass itself applies a force?

As long are you are viewing things from an inertial frame, the only forces are those provided by some agent. (Inertial forces have no agent.)

 

[charng]

I can confirm that a mass does not apply a force on its own. It is the fundamental property of matter to resist changes in motion, known as inertia. When a force is applied to a mass, it will accelerate in the direction of the force. This acceleration is a result of the interaction between the applied force and the mass. In other words, the mass responds to the force applied to it, rather than applying a force itself.

In the context of a spring, damper, and mass system, the mass plays a crucial role in determining the behavior of the system. The spring and damper provide external forces, but it is the mass that responds to these forces and causes the system to exhibit certain characteristics, such as oscillations or damping. Without the mass, the spring and damper would not have anything to act upon, and the system would not function as intended.

Furthermore, the mass also affects the natural frequency of the system. A higher mass will result in a lower natural frequency, meaning the system will oscillate at a slower rate. This is because a larger mass requires more force to accelerate, and therefore, the spring and damper need to exert more force to maintain the oscillations.

In summary, a mass does not apply a force on its own, but it is a crucial component in determining the behavior of a spring, damper, and mass system. It responds to external forces and affects the natural frequency of the system.