Basic mathematical formulae describing a free,

undamped vibration system?

∙∙
ΣFx = mx gives

∙∙ ∙∙
kx = x Or mx  kx = 0 (1)

The oscillation of a mass subjected to a linear restoring force as described by this

equation is called simple harmonic motion and is characterized by acceleration
which is normally written as

∙∙ 2
x  ωn x = 0 (2)

k
Where ωn = (3)
m

Provide the mathematical solution?

 
x = A cos ωn t  B sin ωn t   (4)

Or


x = C sin ωn t  ψ  (5)

We use X as a periodic function of time

∙∙ 2
Direct substitution of these expressions into Eq. (2)  ωverfies
x n x =that
0

each expression is a valid solution to the equation of motion.

We determine the constants A and B, or C and ψ, from knowledge of the initial
∙
displacement x0and initial velocity of x
the mass. For example, if we work
0
∙
with the solution form of Eq. (4) and evaluate x
and x
at time t= 0
, we
obtain

∙
x0 = A and x = B ωn

Substitution of these values of A and B into Eq.(5) yields

∙
x0

x = x0 cos ωn t  
ωn
 sin ωn t   (6)

The constants C and ψ of Eq. (5) can be determined in terms of

given initial conditions for a similar manner. Evaluation of Eq. (5)) and
its first-time derivative at t =gives
0

∙
x0 = C sin ( ψ) and x0 = C ωn cos ( ψ)

Solving for C and ψ yields

2
 x ∙ 1
2  0   x0 ωn 
C = x0 
ω  ψ = tan  
 n  x ∙ 
 0 

Substitution of these values into Eq. (5) gives

2
 x ∙  1
2  0    x0 ωn  
x = x0   
 ω   sin  ωn t  tan  ∙  
 n   x0  
 Equations (6) and (7)) represent two different mathematical expressions

for the same time-dependent motion. We observe that 2 2

C= A B
and tan1(A/B).

1
ψ = tan  
A
B

Describe its physical content?

A body of mass m is free to move along a

fixed horizontal surface. A spring of stiffness
k is fixed at one end and attached to the
mass at the other end. The horizontal force F
can be used to disturb the mass or control it.

At equilibrium the spring force (kx) is equal to

0. Define x = 0 to be at the spring's
equilibirum. Moving the mass to the right (+x)
will cause the spring to pull the mass to the
left. Moving the mass to the left of x = 0
causes the spring to push the mass to the
right. In this ideal system there is no
damping so moving the mass to position x0
will cause the mass to oscillate between -x0
and +x0.