Use your program for the viscously damped spring to solve this problem. Make sur
ID: 1435325 • Letter: U
Question
Use your program for the viscously damped spring to solve this problem. Make sure you change the parameters as specified below.
A mass m=7.4 kg is attached to the end of a spring with a spring constant of k=19.6 N/m. The mass moves through a viscous damping medium with a damping constant b=1.8 kg/s giving a velocity dependent damping force Fdamp= -bv.
The motion occurs in zero gravity so set the force of gravity to ZERO in your program. Also set the equilibrium position L0=0. The mass is initially motionless and displaced from equilibrium by a distance yinitial=0.2 m.
What is the energy of the spring-mass system at the initial position of the mass? (the spring-mass system does not include the damping medium)
Einitial= J
What is the energy of the spring-mass system when the mass first passes through the equilibrium position? (you may wish to include a logical test to help you find when this occurs)
Efinal= J
Explanation / Answer
The energy of the spring-mass system at the initial position of the mass =1/2*k*x^2 = 0.5*19.6*0.2^2 =0.392 J
However, the second part requires you to look at you graph in VPython of the total energy, kinetic energy, and potential energy. The energy of the spring-mass system when the mass first passes through the equilibrium position lies where your total energy meets the first peak of kinetic energy