NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NAME: MUNYARADZI MKWANANZI

STUDENT NUMBER: N0182825X

DEPARTMENT: INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

COURSE: DYNAMICS 2

LECTURER: ENGINEER MUHLA

DUE DATE: 28 FEBRUARY 2020

1. A block of mass m is suspended from two springs having stiffness of k1 and k2
respectively. Determine the equivalent stiffness of a single spring with the same
oscillation characteristics and the period of oscillation when the springs are
arranged in;
a) Parallel to each other,
b) In series [10]

a)

k1 k2
X

For springs in parallel: k1x + k2x = P

kex = P, where ke = k1 + k2
= equivalent stiffness
b).

k1

X1

k2
X2

For springs in series, each spring is subjected to a certain amount of load.

1 1
x 1× x 2=P
K1 K2

1
x=P , where x =x 1+ x 2
Ke

1 1 1
= ×
Ke K 1 K 2

K1×K 2
Ke = K 1+ K 2 , where Ke is the equivalent stiffness
 2. When a 4kg block is suspended from a spring, the spring is stretched a distance
of 60mm. Determine the natural frequency and the period of vibration for a 0.6kg
block attached to the same spring. [10]

Бst due to 4kg = mg/k

60 × 10-3 = (4 × 9.81) / k
K = (4 × 9.81) / 60 × 10-3
= 654N/m

Wn due to 0.6kg = (654/0.6)0.5

= 33.02rad/s
⸫fn = (Wn / 2π)
= 5.25Hz

T = (1 / fn)
= (1 / 5.25)
= 0.19sec

3. A spring-mass system has a natural period of 0.21s. What will be the new period if the spring
constant is :
a) Increased by 50%.
b) Decreased by 50%. [10]

Wn = 2 πf
Wn = (2 π / T)
Tn = (2 π / Wn)

But Wn = (k/m)0.5

⸫ Tn = 2 π/(k/m)

a). T(+50%) =2 π/(1.5k/m)

T(+50%)/ Tn = 2 π/[(1.5)0.5 * (k/m)0.5] * (k/m)/ 2 π

T(+50%) = Tn/(1.5)0.5

= 0.21/(1.5)0.5

= 0.171sec

b). T(-50%) = Tn/(0.5)0.5

= 0.21/(0.5)0.5

= 0.297sec

4. A 3-kg block is suspended from a spring having a stiffness of k=200 N/m. If the block is
pushed 50mm upward from its equilibrium position and then released from rest, determine the
equation that describes the motion. Determine the amplitude and the frequency of the vibration.
Assume that positive displacement is downward. [20]

When the spring starts to oscillate:

mẍ = mg – T
mẍ = mg – k(бst + x)
But when system is in equilibrium;
mg = k бst
⸫ mẍ = mg – mg – kx
mẍ = - kx
mẍ/m + kx/m = 0
ẍ + kx/m = 0
3 ẍ + 200x = 0
Amplitude = 0.05m

Wn2 = 200/3
Wn = (200/3)0.5

F = Wn / 2 π
= (200/3)0.5 / 2 π
= 1.299Hz