Mechanical Translational Systems

QUESTION 1
For the system in Figure 1.1, the springs are at their free lengths when the mass displacements
are zero. Complete the following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics.

Figure 1.1

QUESTION 2
For the system in Figure 2.1, the mass displacements are zero when the springs are at their free
lengths. Complete the following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics. Use x1(t), x2(t), v1(t), and v2(t) as state variables.
c. Repeat part b using x1(t), fK2(t), fB1(t), and v2(t) as state variables.

Mechanical Translational Systems

Figure 2.1

QUESTION 3
For the system in Figure 3.1, the displacement of mass 1 is zero when the spring is at its free
length. The position of mass 1 is measured relative to the position of mass 2. Complete the
following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics.

K
M1
B1

fa(t)
B2

B3

M2

Figure 3.1

Mechanical Translational Systems

QUESTION 4
For the system in Figure 4.1, the mass displacements are zero when the springs are at their free
lengths. Complete the following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics.
c. Determine the condition for which the equations are valid.
d. Determine the mass displacements at equilibrium.
e. Define mass positions that are zero when the system is in equilibrium and determine a
new set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the system
dynamics.

B2

K2

M2

K1
fa(t)

M1
B1
Figure 4.1

QUESTION 5
For the system in Figure 5.1, the springs are at their free lengths when the mass displacements
are zero. Complete the following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.

Mechanical Translational Systems

b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics.

Figure 5.1

QUESTION 6
For the system in Figure 6.1, the mass displacements are zero when the springs are at their free
lengths. Complete the following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics. Use x1(t), x2(t), v1(t), and v2(t) as state variables.
c. Repeat part b using fK1(t), x2(t), v1(t), and fB2(t) as state variables.

x2(t)

x1(t)

K2
K1
fa(t)

M2

B2

M1

B1
Figure 6.1

Mechanical Translational Systems

QUESTION 7
For the system in Figure 7.1, the mass displacements are zero when the springs are at their free
lengths. The position of mass 2 is measured relative to the position of mass 1. Complete the
following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics.

K2

K1

M2

K3

B1

fa(t)

B2
M1
Figure 7.1

QUESTION 8
For the system in Figure 8.1, the mass displacements are zero when the springs are at their free
lengths. Complete the following:
a. Draw Free Body Diagrams of each mass and junction point.
b. Determine a set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the
system dynamics.
c. Determine the condition for which the equations are valid.
d. Determine the mass displacements at equilibrium.
e. Define mass positions that are zero when the system is in equilibrium and determine a
new set of first order differential equations (i.e., state equations) describing the system
dynamics.

Mechanical Translational Systems

K1

fa(t)
M1

K2

M2

Figure 8.1