Spring-Cart-Pendulum System
Spring-Cart-Pendulum System
This Demonstration models the dynamical behavior of a pendulum connected to a cart that is, in turn, attached to a spring. The path of the pendulum bob and the position and speed of the cart and the pendulum can be traced as you vary the parameters of the system. The spring-cart-pendulum system has two degrees of freedom: the horizontal position of the cart and pendulum and the angle between the pendulum's rod and the vertical . In the absence of friction, we have the following equations of motion ( is acceleration due to gravity):
x(t)
θ(t)
g
Lm(t)sin(θ(t))-(t)cos(θ(t))(c+m)(t)+kx(t)
2
′
θ
′′
θ
′′
x
gsin(θ(t))+L(t)+cos(θ(t))(t)0
′′
θ
′′
x