System mass-spring-damper and Energy

In summary, the general system mass-damper-spring is described by a differential equation involving the mass, damping coefficient, spring constant, and external force. The 1st and 2nd parcels integrated correspond to kinetic energy and energy lost to friction respectively, while the 3rd parcel represents the elastic potential energy of the spring. The 2nd term is non-conservative and does not result in a potential energy.
  • #1
Jhenrique
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Hellow!

A general system mass-damper-spring is describied by differential equation:
[tex]m \frac{d^2x}{dt^2}+\gamma \frac{dx}{dt}+kx=F[/tex]
For calculate the energy in this system just integrate the equation wrt x. However, I know the 3th parcel integrated is the elastic potential energy of spring, but what are it the 1st and 2nd parcels integrated?

PS: the 1st should be the kinetic energy, I think...
 
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  • #2
Hello Jhenrique! :wink:
Jhenrique said:
… I know the 3th parcel integrated is the elastic potential energy of spring, but what are it the 1st and 2nd parcels integrated?

PS: the 1st should be the kinetic energy, I think...

Yes, the 1st term is mv dv/dx, = d/dx (1/2 mv2), = d/dx (KE).

(and the 3rd term is obviously d/dx (1/2 kx2), = d/dx (PE))

The 2nd term is v, and ∫ v dx isn't anything particular (other than the energy lost to friction) …

nor would you expect it to be …

this is a damping term, so non-conservative, and you only expect a potential energy from a conservative force! :smile:
 
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1. What is a mass-spring-damper system?

A mass-spring-damper system is a physical model that consists of a mass, a spring, and a damper. This system is commonly used in engineering and physics to study the behavior of oscillating systems.

2. How does a mass-spring-damper system work?

In a mass-spring-damper system, the mass is connected to a spring, which applies a force to the mass when it is displaced from its equilibrium position. The damper, on the other hand, dissipates the energy of the system, preventing it from oscillating indefinitely.

3. What is the equation for the energy of a mass-spring-damper system?

The energy of a mass-spring-damper system can be calculated using the equation E = 0.5*k*x^2 + 0.5*m*v^2, where k is the spring constant, x is the displacement from equilibrium, m is the mass, and v is the velocity.

4. How does the damping coefficient affect the behavior of a mass-spring-damper system?

The damping coefficient determines the amount of energy that is dissipated by the damper in the system. A higher damping coefficient results in a faster dissipation of energy, leading to a quicker convergence to the equilibrium position.

5. What are the real-world applications of mass-spring-damper systems?

Mass-spring-damper systems are used in a variety of real-world applications, such as shock absorbers in vehicles, earthquake-resistant building designs, and musical instruments. They are also commonly used in mechanical engineering for modeling and analyzing mechanical systems.

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