Understanding Coupled Oscillators: Solving for Forces on Two Masses

[Tuneman]

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 $$m_2$$

 

[Physics Monkey]

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

 

[Tuneman]

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

 

[Physics Monkey]

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