VIBRATIONS A vibration is the periodic motion of a body or system of connected bodies displaced from a position of equilibrium. In eneral!

there are t"o types of vibration! free and forced. #ree vibration occurs "hen the motion is maintained by ravitational or elastic restorin forces! such as the s"in in motion of a pendulum or the vibration of an elastic rod. #orced vibration is caused by an e$ternal periodic or intermittent force applied to the system. Both of these types of vibration can either be damped or undamped. %ndamped vibrations can continue indefinitely because frictional effects are ne lected in the analysis. Since in reality both internal and e$ternal frictional forces are present! the motion of all vibratin bodies is actually damped. he simplest type of vibratin motion is undamped free vibration! represented by the bloc& and sprin model sho"n in #i . ''()a. Vibratin motion occurs "hen the bloc& is released from a displaced position $ so that the sprin pulls on the bloc&. The bloc& "ill attain a velocity such that it "ill proceed to move out of equilibrium "hen $ * +! and provided the supportin surface is smooth! the bloc& "ill oscillate bac& and forth. The time(dependent path of motion of the bloc& can be determined by applyin the equation of motion to the bloc& "hen it is in the displaced position $. The free(body dia ram is sho"n in #i . ''()b. The elastic restorin force # * &$ is al"ays directed to"ard the equilibrium position! "hereas the acceleration a is assumed to act in the direction of positive displacement. Since a * d'$,dt' * -! "e have (&$ * m$