How Do You Solve the Damped Oscillator Equation Using Newton's Second Law?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving the damped oscillator equation using Newton's Second Law, specifically the second-order linear differential equation represented as ma = -kx - αx. The solutions are derived through the auxiliary equation, leading to the general solution for underdamped harmonic motion, expressed as x(t) = e^{-βt}(Acos(ω₁t) + Bsin(ω₁t)). Key parameters include the damping coefficient β and the natural frequency ω, with the relationship β < ω indicating underdamped behavior. The discussion also touches on the use of Euler's formula to simplify the expression into trigonometric functions.

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Using Newton's 2nd Law for a damped oscillator:

ma = -kx - \alpha x

which is a second order linear DE. To solve it we use the trial integrating factor e^{\lambda x} [/tex] to come to the root equation<br /> <br /> mx^2 + \alpha x + k = 0 where we can find our two solutions to be <br /> <br /> r_{1} \ and \ r_{2} \frac{-\alpha}{2m} +/- \frac{1}{2m} \sqrt{\alpha^2 - 4km}<br /> <br /> And the function x(t) is supposed to be represented by<br /> x(t) = Ae^{r_1 t } + Be^{r_2 t} which can be solved with th given initial conditions x(0) = 0 \ and \ v(0) = v_0.<br /> <br /> I&#039;m supposed to end up with the product of two exponentials which dissolve to a cosine and sin function. <br /> Four lines up is where I&#039;m lost.. I&#039;m not sure how to jump to the two exponential functions. What I have is:<br /> <br /> x(t) = Ae^{r_1 t}(\cos(x(\alpha^2 - 4km)) +/- i \sin(x(\alpha^2 - 4km)) which just smells really wrong. I can solve the particular equations once I can get to the general solution, but I&#039;m stuck there. I know how the damping is determined and everything.. I just can&#039;t get the general equation :(
 
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The differential equation modelling this system is given by:

m\Ddot{x} + 2\beta \dot{x} + \omega^2 x = 0

With \beta \ and \ \omega defined as

\beta = \frac{b}{2m} \ and \ \omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}

with m being mass, k the characteristic constant of the physical system, and b the damping coefficient. The equation is solved via the auxilliary equation which simplifies to

r_{1,2} = -\beta \pm \sqrt{\beta^2 - \omega^2}

The damping coefficient is less than the frequency of the system in underdamped harmonic motion, thus \beta &lt; \omega and imaginary numbers appear. We introduce another simplification, \omega_1 defined by

\omega_1 = \sqrt{\omega^2 - \beta^2}

Thus r_{1,2} = -\beta \pm \imath \omega_1 and x(t) can be expressed by the exponentials:

x(t) = \exp{\left((-\beta + \imath \omega_1)t}\right) + \exp{\left((-\beta - \imath \omega_1)t}\right) } and by Euler's formula we simplify to the general solution to underdamped harmonic motion:

Equation A
x(t) = e^{-\beta t}\left(A\cos(\omega_1 t) + B\sin(\omega_1 t) )
 
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\frac{T}{2} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sum_{m=1}^{\infty} a_n a_m\cos(\omega _n t) \cos(\omega_m t) {\left(\frac{2\pi}{L} x\right)}^2 n m \int_0^L \cos \left(\frac{2\pi n}{L} x\right) \cos\left(\frac{2\pi m}{L} x\right) dx
 
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This is not really introductory physics, but anywho, have you taken differential equations yet? This is a classic example probably found in your book if you have one on O.D.E. That post number 3 looks scary as hell to me, what is that?
 
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what is that?

iii) (challenging) now consider a wave made from a superposition of modes:

\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n\cos(\omega_n t)\sin(\frac{2\pi n}{L} x)

calculate the total energy of this wave and comment on your answer.
I get the KE and PE each to be 0 by the expression in post 3. We have arguments for it being 0 and arguments against it being 0.
 
\alpha ^{x+n} 2 dy + \left( \alpha ^3 x^2 - 3 \alpha ^n y) dx = 0
 
f = \frac{1}{2L}\sqrt{\frac{mg}{\mu}}
 
Prove

\left(\frac{ia - 1}{ia+1}\right)^{ib} = exp(-2b cot^{-1} a) and

\sum_{n=1}^{N} \cos(2n-1) x = \frac{\sin 2n x}{2\sin x}}
 
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Whozum, are those questions with which you need help?

If so, for the second one, you could multiply numerator and denominator by 2sin(x) and write 2SinACosB as Sin(A+B) + Sin(A-B).
 
  • #10
siddharth said:
Whozum, are those questions with which you need help?

If so, for the second one, you could multiply numerator and denominator by 2sin(x) and write 2SinACosB as Sin(A+B) + Sin(A-B).

No, I'm just using this as a tex notepad since no one was helping when I needed it. I'm good with all these.

v = \lambda f

\lambda = 4L

v = 4L f

f = \frac{v}{4L}
 

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