Motion of Two Masses Connected by Springs

mass 1

1

mass 2

1

spring stiffness

1

50

2

50

3

50

time to watch motion

10

release system

Two carts of varying mass roll without slipping on wheels with negligible rotational inertia. The carts are connected to each other and to walls by springs of varying stiffness (numbered from left to right). Initially the cart on the left (mass 1) is at its natural resting position and the one on the right (mass 2) is held one unit to the right of its natural resting position and then released. This Demonstration shows the motion of the carts.

Details

Developed from the teaching materials of Thomas Peacock and David Gossard for Course 2.003 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT.

External Links

Spring (ScienceWorld)

Permanent Citation

Sarah Lichtblau

"Motion of Two Masses Connected by Springs"
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/MotionOfTwoMassesConnectedBySprings/
Wolfram Demonstrations Project
Published: March 7, 2011