Is This the Correct Differential Equation for a Mass-Spring Oscillation Lab?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the formulation of a differential equation related to mass-spring oscillations in a lab setting. The original poster is uncertain about the correctness of their equation for modeling the system, which involves a 200 gram mass attached to a spring and oscillating after being displaced.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions the validity of their differential equation and seeks confirmation. Participants discuss the standard equation for undamped simple harmonic motion and suggest modifications to include friction. There is also a mention of the form of the solution to the differential equation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different interpretations of the differential equation. Suggestions for including friction in the model have been made, indicating a productive exchange of ideas, though no consensus on the correct equation has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the need to account for friction in the differential equation, which may not have been considered initially. The original poster's uncertainty about their equation suggests a potential misunderstanding of the underlying physics.

formulajoe
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this is for a lab, but i wrote down the wrong equation. the lab was about attaching a 200 gram mass to a spring. we had to displace it so many cm, and than release it. we had to measure the period of the oscillations. but we are supposed to compare this measured period with a period obtained from the solution of the appropriate differential equation. i wrote down this for the diff eq, but I am not sure if its right

-kx -b(dx/dt)^2=m(d^2x/dt^2)

is this the correct one? and if it is, where can i find the solution to this?
 
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The equation for undamped simple harmonic motion is:

[tex]m\!\stackrel{..}{x} +\, \omega_0^2x = 0[/tex]

It can be solved by attempting a solution of the form [itex]y = A\cdot \textrm{cos}(\omega x + \phi)[/itex]

cookiemonster
 
Last edited:
this needs to include friction. that's the b*v^2. i can't find anything anywhere that has a differential equation with friction.
 
Just add a term:

[tex]m\!\stackrel{..}{x} +\, \omega_0^2x + b\!\stackrel{.}{x}^2 = 0[/tex]

cookiemonster
 

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