# Confused about behaviour of spring mass system

I am writing some code that will plot the behaviour of a system consisting of 4 springs and 3 masses. They are arranged in the configuration (s:spring, m:mass)

wall-s-m-s-m-s-m-s-wall


I have set the masses to have the same mass and the springs to have the same spring constant.

I notice that if I give each mass an equal initial displacement (say, of 1.5), I will get a graph like this:

However, if I displace only the first spring I get a graph like this (x is displacement, q is velocity):

I had thought the resonance frequencies would be the same (same mass, same spring constant), so the graph would show a sinusoidal curve. However, the graph appears to be 'messy', and I am not sure how to explain this behaviour. Why is the displacement irregular?

• Dec 22 '18 at 15:45
• This chapter on Normal Modes is worth looking at? Dec 22 '18 at 16:02
• Your initial conditions in the second case will not excite a true normal mode. You never should have expected that. In general the motion will be a superposition of normal modes.
– user196418
Dec 22 '18 at 16:14
• Units in the question and on the graphs would be nice. Dec 23 '18 at 1:02
• Thanks for the suggestions. I have found this webpage, which really helped me to understand. Dec 23 '18 at 20:21

$$\let\om=\omega \def\qt{{\textstyle {1 \over 4}}} \def\half{{\textstyle {1 \over 2}}}$$ Here is the analytical treatment. Let $$x_1, x_2, x_3$$ be the displacements of the three masses from their equilibrium positions. $$k$$ are spring constants. Then the forces acting are:

• on mass 1: $$F_1 = k\,(x_2 - 2\,x_1)$$
• on mass 2: $$F_2 = k\,(x_1 + x_3 - 2\,x_2)$$
• on mass 3: $$F_3 = k\,(x_2 - 2\,x_3)$$.

There are 3 normal modes, easily identified by symmetry:

• mode $$a$$: all masses oscillating in phase, $$m_1$$ and $$m_2$$ with equal amplitude, $$m_3$$ with a possibily different amplitude (we shall see its amplitude is greater)
• mode $$b$$: $$m_1$$ and $$m_3$$ oscillating in opposition, with equal amplitudes; $$m_2$$ stationary
• mode $$c$$: like $$a$$ but $$m_2$$ oscillates in opposition.

In equations:

Mode $$a$$ $$x_1 = x_3 = a_1 \cos\om_a t \qquad x_2 = a_2 \cos\om_a t \quad (a_1, a_2 > 0).\tag1$$

Mode $$b$$ $$x_1 = -x_3 = b\,\cos\om_b t \qquad x_2 = 0.\tag2$$

Mode $$c$$ $$x_1 = x_3 = c_1 \cos\om_c t \qquad x_2 = c_2 \cos\om_c t \quad (c_1 > 0,\; c_2 < 0).\tag3$$

So you see that equations for modes $$a$$ and $$c$$ are the same apart signs for $$a_2$$, $$c_2$$. Actually we'll find both in one shot. Note that eqs. (1), (2), (3) assume all initial velocities are zero. Otherwise additional terms with $$\sin\om_a t$$ etc. would have been needed.

Applying $$F=ma$$ we get for each mode a system of three equations.

Mode $$a$$ $$m\,\ddot x_1 = k\,(x_2 - 2\,x_1)$$ $$m\,\ddot x_2 = k\,(x_1 + x_3 - 2\,x_2)$$ (the third equation is useless). $$-m\,\om_a^2 a_1 = k\,(a_2 - 2\,a_1) \tag4$$ $$-m\,\om_a^2 a_2 = k\,(2\,a_1 - 2\,a_2).$$ Dividing $${a_1 \over a_2} = {a_2 - 2\,a_1 \over 2\,a_1 - 2\,a_2}$$ $$a_1 (2\,a_1 - 2\,a_2) = a_2 (a_2 - 2\,a_1)$$ $$2\,a_1^2 = a_2^2$$ $$a_2 = \sqrt2\,a_1.$$

Mode $$c$$ gives the same equations but we must take $$c_2 = -\sqrt2\,c_1.$$

We may use (4) to find $$\om_a$$ and $$\om_c$$: $$-m\,\om_a^2 a_1 = k\,a_1\,(\sqrt2 - 2)$$ $$\om_a = \sqrt{(2 - \sqrt2)\,{k \over m}}$$ $$\om_c = \sqrt{(2 + \sqrt2)\,{k \over m}}.$$

Mode $$b$$ $$m\,\ddot x_1 = -2\,k\,x_1$$ $$-m\,\om_b^2 b = -2\,k\,b$$ $$\om_b = \sqrt{2k \over m}.$$

Let's summarize $$\om_a = \sqrt{(2 - \sqrt2)\,{k \over m}} \qquad \om_b = \sqrt{2k \over m} \qquad \om_c = \sqrt{(2 + \sqrt2)\,{k \over m}}.$$

Mode $$a$$: $$x_1 = a\,\cos\om_a t \qquad x_2 = a \sqrt2\,\cos\om_a t \qquad x_3 = a\,\cos\om_a t$$

Mode $$b$$: $$x_1 = b\,\cos\om_b t \qquad x_2 = 0 \qquad x_3 = -b\,\cos\om_b t$$

Mode $$c$$: $$x_1 = c\,\cos\om_c t \qquad x_2 = -c \sqrt2\,\cos\om_c t \qquad x_3 = c\,\cos\om_c t.$$

General solution (with $$\dot x_1(0) = \dot x_2(0) = \dot x_3(0) = 0$$) \eqalign{ x_1(t) &= a\,\cos\om_a t + b\,\cos\om_b t + c\,\cos\om_c t \cr x_2(t) &= a\,\sqrt2\,\cos\om_a t - c\,\sqrt2\,\cos\om_c t \cr x_3(t) &= a\,\cos\om_a t - b\,\cos\om_b t + c\,\cos\om_c t.\cr}

Note: I followed a step-by-step approach, but a more direct and general way exists, valid for any number of balls. This post is already too long, however...

A particular solution

To get the solution satisfying $$x_1(0) = x_2(0) = x_3(0) = 1$$ we have to find $$a$$, $$b$$, $$c$$ such that \eqalign{ a + b + c &= 1 \cr (a - c)\,\sqrt2 &= 1 \cr a - b + c &= 1 \cr} i.e. $$a = {2 + \sqrt2 \over 4} \qquad b = 0 \qquad c = {2 - \sqrt2 \over 4}.$$

Then \eqalign{ x_1(t) = x_3(t) &= {2 + \sqrt2 \over 4}\,\cos\om_a t + {2 - \sqrt2 \over 4}\,\cos\om_c t \cr x_2(t) &= {1 + \sqrt2 \over 2}\,\cos\om_a t + {1 - \sqrt2 \over 2}\,\cos\om_c t.\cr}

Here are graphs:

http://www.sagredo.eu/temp/ball-spring-1.eps

Another solution

If $$x_1(0) = 1 \ x_2(0) = x_3(0) = 0$$ then \eqalign{ a + b + c &= 1 \cr (a - c)\,\sqrt2 &= 0 \cr a - b + c &= 0 \cr} i.e. $$a = c = \qt \qquad b = \half.$$

Then \eqalign{ x_1(t) &= \qt \cos\om_a t + \half \cos\om_b t + \qt \cos\om_c t \cr x_2(t) &= {1 \over \sqrt2}\,(\cos\om_a t - \cos\om_c t).\cr x_3(t) &= \qt \cos\om_a t - \half \cos\om_b t + \qt \cos\om_c t.\cr}

Here are graphs:

http://www.sagredo.eu/temp/ball-spring-2.eps

What you are seeing are "harmonics." Its the sum of multiple sine waves.

When you handle a "simple" case, the system operates in one "mode," with a single harmonic. If you displace it differently, you may see multiples of this fundamental harmonic together.

Indeed, guitarists rely on this to change the tone of their music. If they pluck the string closer to the neck of the guitar, they pull the string into a shape which closely resembles the fundamental harmonic of the string before letting it go. This causes most of the energy (and thus sound) to be found in that fundamental. If they pluck closer to the bridge, the shape has a very short side (the side between your finger and the bridge), which leads to lots of high overtones dominating the sound.

• Thank you for this easy to understand explanation. Dec 23 '18 at 20:22

To me, the first graphs are confusing. Frankly I suspect there is some fault in your code.

I see all three masses moving the same. But if you give them equal initial displacements the springs #2 and #3 aren't initially deformed. How can mass #2 start moving exactly as the others do?

To be sure, your system can be exactly solved analytically. Are you able to do it?

A suggestion. Try your code with just one mass, then with two. What do you expect? What does your simulation say?

• when all the masses have are equally deformed, the system behaves effectively like one mass. It's the normal mode with the lowest frequency. This can be seen in the graphs. I don't think there's anything wrong with the code. Dec 22 '18 at 18:42