Mass is subject to external force

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the motion of a mass on a linear spring subject to an external sinusoidal force. Participants explore the mathematical formulation of the motion, including the derivation of the governing differential equation and the determination of the amplitude of the motion. The scope includes theoretical aspects, mathematical reasoning, and initial value problems (IVPs).

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the exercise and derives the motion of the mass as $y(t) = Asin(wt + f)$, with constants $A$, $w$, and $f$ defined in terms of initial conditions.
  • Another participant confirms the form of the governing differential equation as $m\frac{d^2y}{dt^2} + ky = F_0\sin(\omega_0 t)$ and suggests finding the particular solution using methods like undetermined coefficients.
  • A later reply reiterates the governing equation and discusses the general solution, including the homogeneous and particular solutions, but seeks clarification on finding the amplitude of the motion.
  • One participant questions whether to express $y$ in a specific sinusoidal form or if another approach is needed.
  • Another participant details the process of finding the general solution, including the use of initial conditions to derive constants, and expresses uncertainty about determining the amplitude of the resulting motion from the combined solutions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the form of the governing differential equation and the approach to finding solutions. However, there is no consensus on the method to determine the amplitude of the resulting motion, with differing opinions on the use of Fourier analysis and other techniques.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the dependence of the amplitude on the cyclic frequency and the implications of the initial conditions on the solution. There are unresolved mathematical steps related to the combination of sinusoidal terms in the general solution.

evinda
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Hello! :)
I have a question..I am given the following exercise:
Prove that the motion of a mass m on a linear spring with constant $k$, has the form $y (t) = Asin(wt+f)$ , where $t$ is the time and $A, w, f$ are constants. Interpret the physical meaning of the above constants and specify their values if for $t = 0, y(0)=y_{0}$ and $y'(0)=v_{0}$. If,in addition, the mass is subject to external force $F (t) = F_{0}sin (w_{0}t)$, where $F_{0}$ the amplitude and $w_{0}$ the cyclic frequency,calculate the amplitude of the motion and find its dependence from the cyclic frequency $w_{0}$.I have shown that the motion of the mass has the form $y(t)= Asin(wt+f)$,where $A=\sqrt{\frac{v_{0}^{2}}{w^{2}}+y_{0}^{2}}, \text { where } w=\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$ and $f=arctan(\frac{y_{0}w}{v_{0}})$ .But,when the mass is subject to external force $F (t) = F_{0}sin (w_{0}t)$,do we get this differential equation: $y''+w^{2}y=\frac{F_{0}}{m}sin(w_{0}t)$ ,or am I wrong?If it is right,how can I find the amplitude of the motion? :confused:
 
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For an undamped system with a sinusoidal forcing term, we could say it is governed by:

$$m\frac{d^2y}{dt^2}+ky=F_0\sin(\omega_0 t)$$

A general solution to this ODE is the sum of a particular solution and a general solution to the corresponding homogenous equation.

You have already found the form of the homogeneous solution. Can you now state the form of the particular solution, either by using a table or using the annihilator method? And then I suggest using the method of undetermined coefficients to determine the particular solution. At this point you can then use linear combination identities to determine the amplitude of the resulting motion and its dependence on the cyclic frequency.
 
MarkFL said:
For an undamped system with a sinusoidal forcing term, we could say it is governed by:

$$m\frac{d^2y}{dt^2}+ky=F_0\sin(\omega_0 t)$$

A general solution to this ODE is the sum of a particular solution and a general solution to the corresponding homogenous equation.

You have already found the form of the homogeneous solution. Can you now state the form of the particular solution, either by using a table or using the annihilator method? And then I suggest using the method of undetermined coefficients to determine the particular solution. At this point you can then use linear combination identities to determine the amplitude of the resulting motion and its dependence on the cyclic frequency.

I have found the general solution: $y(t)=c_{1}cos(wt)+c_{2}sin(wt)+\frac{F_{0}}{m(w-w_{0}^{2})}sin(w_{0}t)$ where $c_{1}=y_{0} $ and $ c_{2}=\frac{v_{0}}{w}-\frac{F_{0}w_{0}}{mw(w-w_{0}^{2})}$ Is this right?? But how can I find the amplitude of the motion? :confused:
 
Do I have to write $y$ in the form $Asin(wt+f)$,or do I have to do something else?? (Thinking)
 
Okay, we are given the IVP:

$$m\frac{d^2y}{dt^2}+ky=F_0\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$ where $$y(0)=y_0,\,y'(0)=v_0$$

The characteristic roots are:

$$r=\pm\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}i$$

Hence, the homogeneous solution is:

$$y_h(t)=c_1\cos\left(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}t \right)+c_2\sin\left(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}t \right)$$

Applying a linear combination identity we can express this solution in the form:

$$y_h(t)=c_1\sin\left(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}t+c_2 \right)$$

Now, because of the form of the forcing term on the right, we may assume the particular solution must take the form:

$$y_p(t)=A\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)+B\cos\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

Differentiating twice, we find:

$$\frac{d^2}{dt^2}y_p(t)=-\omega_0^2y_p(t)$$

Substituting into the ODE, we find:

$$-m\omega_0^2\left(A\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)+B\cos\left(\omega_0 t \right) \right)+k\left(A\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)+B\cos\left(\omega_0 t \right) \right)=F_0\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

So that we may compare coefficients, we arrange this equation as follows:

$$A\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)+B\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)\cos\left(\omega_0 t \right)=F_0\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)+0\cos\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

Equating the coefficients, we obtain the system:

$$A\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)=F_0\implies A=\frac{F_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}$$

$$B\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)=0$$

Assuming $$k\ne m\omega_0^2$$ we find $B=0$, and so our particular solution is:

$$y_p(t)=\frac{F_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

And thus, by the principle of superposition, the general solution is given by:

$$y(t)=y_h(t)+y_p(t)$$

$$y(t)=c_1\sin\left(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}t+c_2 \right)+\frac{F_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

Differentiating with respect to $t$, we find:

$$y'(t)=c_1\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\cos\left(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}t+c_2 \right)+\frac{F_0\omega_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}\cos\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

Utilizing the given initial values, we find:

$$y(0)=c_1\sin\left(c_2 \right)=y_0$$

$$y'(0)=c_1\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\cos\left(c_2 \right)+\frac{F_0\omega_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}=v_0$$

The first equation gives us:

$$c_1=\frac{y_0}{\sin\left(c_2 \right)}$$

And so substituting for $c_1$ into the second equation, we obtain:

$$\frac{y_0}{\sin\left(c_2 \right)}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\cos\left(c_2 \right)+\frac{F_0\omega_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}=v_0$$

We may arrange this as:

$$\tan\left(c_2 \right)=\frac{y_0\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)}{v_0\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)-F_0\omega_0}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$$

And so we find:

$$c_2=\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{y_0\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)}{v_0\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)-F_0\omega_0}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} \right)$$

For simplicity, let's define:

$$\alpha\equiv\frac{y_0\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)}{v_0\left(k-m\omega_0^2 \right)-F_0\omega_0}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}$$

Hence:

$$c_2=\tan^{-1}(\alpha)$$

and then we find:

$$c_1=\frac{y_0\sqrt{\alpha^2+1}}{\alpha}$$

Thus, the solution satisfying the IVP is:

$$y(t)=\frac{y_0\sqrt{\alpha^2+1}}{\alpha}\sin\left(\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}t+\tan^{-1}(\alpha) \right)+\frac{F_0}{k-m\omega_0^2}\sin\left(\omega_0 t \right)$$

We see we have the sum of two sinusoidal terms, with differing amplitudes, periods and phase shifts. I really can't think of a means to determine the amplitude of the resulting combination. Perhaps someone else can suggest a means of doing so, perhaps using Fourier analysis. :D
 

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