How do you find angular frequencies in coupled masses using Hooke's Law?

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Homework Statement


There are 3 masses connected by springs of the same spring constant (k). The end masses are connected to solid walls via 2 more springs. Assuming simple harmonic motion find the angular frequencies (\omega) for each of the normal modes of vibrations...

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I just need help getting the equations of motion for each of the masses, I can't seem to get them right
 
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What have you got so far? Posting your work may assist everyone in spotting out your mistake :smile:
 
So far I have got:

Mass A:

ma_{A} + kx_{B} - kx_{C} = 0

Mass B:

ma_{B} + kx_{A} - 2kx_{B} + kx_{C} = 0

Mass C:

ma_{C} + kx_{A} - kx_{B} + 2kx_{C} = 0

Thats the best I can do... :S

Sorry, the superscripts are meant to be subscripts XD
 
Could you please describe or draw the system? I cannot deduce any system that matches your equations.
 
hey, sorry for not putting up a diagram. didn't think to do that XD

It's okay though, I worked it out finally.

Thanks for trying to help :)
 
To solve this, I first used the units to work out that a= m* a/m, i.e. t=z/λ. This would allow you to determine the time duration within an interval section by section and then add this to the previous ones to obtain the age of the respective layer. However, this would require a constant thickness per year for each interval. However, since this is most likely not the case, my next consideration was that the age must be the integral of a 1/λ(z) function, which I cannot model.
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