# Coupled oscillators

1. ### Tuneman

42
Ok here's the problemo:

|
|ooooo[m1]00000[m2]
|

I have two masses attached to two springs, the "ooo"s are the springs, and the "[m]"s are the masses, the spring constants are the same , and so are the masses. I know to do the problem, the only thing is I am having trouble figuring out the equations of the forces on the two masses.

I thought $$F_1 = -kx_1 + k(x_2 - x_1) , F_2 = kx_1 - kx_2$$

where $$x_1$$ is the displacement to the right from $$m_1$$ and $$x_2$$ is the displacement to the right from $$m_2$$

Last edited: Dec 3, 2005
2. ### Physics Monkey

1,358
You probably need some unstretched lengths in there somewhere otherwise your masses are going to be beating against the wall and each other.

3. ### Tuneman

42
Well they are at position zero as they appear in the picture and then they are moved to the right

4. ### Physics Monkey

1,358
Ah, ok, that works too. Looks like you have it right then.

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