Solve Unknown Spring Equation from Foxtrot Comic Strip

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter BluberryPi
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Spring
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics equation presented in a Foxtrot comic strip related to forced oscillations and resonance. Participants seek clarification on the equation's meaning and its source, exploring concepts of oscillation without damping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • A new member expresses confusion over an undefined equation from a comic strip and requests help in understanding it.
  • Another participant identifies the equation as related to forced oscillations without damping.
  • One participant suggests that any book on forced oscillation would cover the topic, mentioning terms like "driven harmonic oscillator."
  • A participant provides an explanation of the equation, detailing the roles of natural frequency and driving frequency in resonance.
  • There is a mention of a potential mistake in the equation presented in the comic strip, prompting further inquiry.
  • Another participant acknowledges the mistake, hinting at a unit mismatch in the equation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the topic of forced oscillations and resonance, but there is a disagreement regarding the correctness of the equation presented in the comic strip, with some participants pointing out potential errors.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the need for definitions and sources related to the equation, indicating that the discussion may depend on specific interpretations of oscillation concepts.

BluberryPi
Messages
20
Reaction score
1
Hey, I am a new member, and I have a question. One of my favorite comic strip is foxtrot because it has so much physics:smile:! When I read this particular strip, however (7/30/2000- find it on Foxtrot GoComics) I was puzzled by the equations. Fortunately, 4 of them were printed in the Gocomics comments. Unfortunately, one was not really defined! Can someone please find this physics equation, explain it to me, and cite the source in which you got it from ? Thank You! The formula is in panel 4. By the way, the boy's name is Jason.http://api.ning.com/files/RlUkQ9Zps*RjiCqr6VvmdeH7x2Srx0GsPXjfQgGYD5GaS1MCjIQ6c7dIk0g4pZ7ZR5NDYsPIC6sq60J6WzrAiUBXxDattOV-/foxtrotplayground.gif
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
BluberryPi said:
Hey, I am a new member, and I have a question. One of my favorite comic strip is foxtrot because it has so much physics:smile:! When I read this particular strip, however (7/30/2000- find it on Foxtrot GoComics) I was puzzled by the equations. Fortunately, 4 of them were printed in the Gocomics comments. Unfortunately, one was not really defined! Can someone please find this physics equation, explain it to me, and cite the source in which you got it from ? Thank You! The formula is in panel 4. By the way, the boy's name is Jason.http://api.ning.com/files/RlUkQ9Zps*RjiCqr6VvmdeH7x2Srx0GsPXjfQgGYD5GaS1MCjIQ6c7dIk0g4pZ7ZR5NDYsPIC6sq60J6WzrAiUBXxDattOV-/foxtrotplayground.gif
It is the equation of motion for a forced oscillator without daming.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you, Nasu! However, where did you get this from? I would like to know so I could go there.
 
Any book treating forced oscillation will have this. Or just look it up. It may be called "driven harmonic oscillator" or "forced h.o.".
Usualy the more general case, including damping is treated.
 
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! :smile::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile:
 
You also asked for an explanation. The formula gives the position ##x## of the oscillating object (in this case the kid on the horse). The interesting feature is the factor in the denominator ##(ω_o^2-ω^2)##.

##ω_o## is the natural frequency of oscillation of the system (the frequency of oscillation when the kid relaxes and doesn't force it to oscillate).

##ω## is the driving frequency (the frequency of the kid's pushes as he tries to increase the amplitude of the oscillations).

When these two frequencies match we have resonance (large amplitude oscillations).

##(ω_o^2-ω^2)## approaches zero as the two frequencies approach the same value, and since this factor is in the denominator, the value of the position increases and we have the large amplitude oscillations that characterize resonance.
 
By the way, the equation in first panel has a mistake in it. Can you spot it?:)
 
Oh yeah! That author knows better than to make a unit mismatch!
 

Similar threads

Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 236)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 236)
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K