Position of Cart attached to Wall by Spring under Damping/Critically Damped/x = x0 at t = 0

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Theorem

Problem Definition

CartOnSpringWithDamping.png

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:

$a^2 = \dfrac k m$
$2 b = \dfrac c m$

Let $b = a$.


Let $C$ be pulled aside to $x = x_0$ and released from stationary at time $t = 0$.

Then the horizontal position of $C$ at time $t$ can be expressed as:

$x = x_0 e^{-a t} \paren {1 + a t}$


Such a system is defined as being critically damped.


Proof

From Position of Cart attached to Wall by Spring under Damping: Critically Damped:

$x = C_1 e^{-a t} + C_2 t e^{-a t}$

where $C_1$ and $C_2$ depend upon the conditions of $C$ at time $t = 0$.

It remains to evaluate $C_1$ and $C_2$ under the given conditions.


Differentiating $(1)$ with respect to $t$ gives:

$(2): \quad x' = -a C_1 e^{-a t} + C_2 e^{-a t} - a C_2 t e^{-a t}$


Setting the initial condition $x = x_0$ when $t = 0$ in $(1)$:

\(\ds x_0\) \(=\) \(\ds C_1 e^0 + C_2 e^0 \times 0\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds x_0\) \(=\) \(\ds C_1\)


Setting the initial condition $x' = 0$ when $t = 0$ in $(1)$:

\(\ds 0\) \(=\) \(\ds -a C_1 e^0 + C_2 e^0 - a C_2 e^0 \times 0\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds 0\) \(=\) \(\ds -a C_1 + C_2\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds C_2\) \(=\) \(\ds a C_1\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds a x_0\)


Hence:

\(\ds x\) \(=\) \(\ds x_0 e^{-a t} + a x_0 t e^{-a t}\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds x_0 e^{-a t} \paren {1 + a t}\)

$\blacksquare$


Sources