Natural Frequency of Underdamped Cart attached to Wall by Spring
Theorem
Problem Definition
Consider a cart $C$ of mass $m$ attached to a wall by means of a spring $S$.
Let $C$ be free to move along a straight line in a medium which applies a damping force $F_d$ whose magnitude is proportional to the speed of $C$.
Let the force constant of $S$ be $k$.
Let the constant of proportion of the damping force $F_d$ be $c$.
Let the displacement of $C$ at time $t$ from the equilibrium position be $\mathbf x$.
Let $C$ be underdamped.
Let $C$ be pulled aside to $x = x_0$ and released from stationary at time $t = 0$.
Then the natural frequency of $C$ can be expressed as:
- $\nu = \dfrac 1 {2 \pi} \sqrt {\dfrac k m - \dfrac {c^2} {4 m^2} }$
Proof
From Period of Oscillation of Underdamped Cart attached to Wall by Spring:
- $T = \dfrac {2 \pi} {\sqrt {\dfrac k m - \dfrac {c^2} {4 m^2} } }$
where $T$ is the period of oscillation of $C$.
Then by definition of the natural frequency of $C$:
\(\ds \nu\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac 1 T\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac 1 {\left({\dfrac {2 \pi} {\sqrt {\frac k m - \frac {c^2} {4 m^2} } } }\right)}\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac 1 {2 \pi} \sqrt {\dfrac k m - \dfrac {c^2} {4 m^2} }\) |
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1972: George F. Simmons: Differential Equations ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 3.20$: Vibrations in Mechanical Systems: $(22)$