Classical Dynamics Any help would be greatly appreciated

1. Nov 10, 2013

misslogica

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A mass m1 is attached to a fixed spring on a horizontal surface and attached across a pulley (ignore the pulley mass) to another freely hanging m2. Write the Lagrangian in terms of a single parameter. Find the equation of motion and determine the frequency of oscillation.

2. Relevant equations

L = T-U

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Nov 10, 2013

hilbert2

The potential energy of the system comes from the stretching of the spring and from the gravitational potential energy of the hanging object. You should be able to write these contributions in terms of one coordinate $x$ which gives the spring's extention relative to equilibrium. The velocities of the objects are equal, as the objects are connected to each other. Therefore the kinetic energy is just $\frac{1}{2}(m_{1}+m_{2})v^{2}$, where $v=\dot{x_ {1}}=\dot{x_{2}}$ is the velocity of the objects.