Assignment 1
Assignment 1
Determine:
2. Consider the configuration of the spring-mass system shown in Figure A1. The spring
is attached to a rigid support at its upper end. A block of mass 8 kg hangs at the lower
end of the spring, which causes the spring to elongate 100 mm downward. At this
(a) Assume +x is downward. Derive the equation of motion of the block in terms
equilibrium position;
(i) using Newton’s second law to the appropriate free-body diagram of the
system
m = 8 kg
Figure A1
3. A free vibration test is run to determine the spring stiffness and damping coefficient of
the mechanical system shown in Figure A2 (a). The system consists of stepped
cylinder connected to a block by a light rod. The mass and mass moment of inertia of
the cylinder are m2 and Io, respectively. While, the mass of the block is m1. As shown
in the figure, the system is restrained to move by two springs and a viscous damper.
The springs have stiffness of k1=k2=k and the damper has damping coefficient of c.
The block is displaced from equilibrium position and released with the initial
conditions of xo = 8mm and Ẋo = 0 mm/s. The ensuring oscillations of the block are
monitored and an oscilloscope provides the displacement data x(t) of the block, which
is shown in Figure A2 (b). Assume the cylinder rolls without slipping on the
horizontal surface.
(a) Derive the equation of motion of the system in terms of x by applying Newton’s
second law to the appropriate free-body diagram of the system. Find its maximum
(b) Use the experimental data shown in Figure A2 (b) to find the spring constant k, the