Forced Oscillator

Eduardo Sontag's Forced Oscillator, using JOde, for classroom use, Rutgers.
Student Assignment:
  1. Shown is a solution of an equation of the type y"+py'+qy=cos(wt).
    Answer:
    (1) what are the numerical values of p, q, and w?
    (2) what are the numerical values of y(0) and y'(0)? (hint for y': use that y'=x and plot x(t))
  2. Change w to 0.0.
    Plot the solution with this value of w ("submit all") and print.

    (Note: the program gives you the option to print to file and save for later printing or emailing). Use the Print button in the applet, NOT the one for the browser. (If you have difficulties printing, you can always try a "print screen"; most computers allow you to do that.)
  3. Repeat with w=2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0.
    (Provide separate printouts for each of these values, please.)
  4. Write on a table the value of the amplitude "A" that you observe for the oscillations (after transients). Just give rough estimates, using the scale shown in the plot. (For instance, for w=1.0, the amplitude looks more or less like 0.15; it may be useful to change the min and max of y to smaller values to see better.) Do this for w=1,2,3,4,5.
  5. The amplitude formula given in page 421 of the textbook is:
    A = 1/(sqrt[(q-w^2)^2+p^2w^2]
    Evaluate this formula for the values w=1,2,3,4,5, and compare with what the plotting program gave you.
  6. Answer: at what value did you get the largest "A"? Prove mathematically, using the formula, that this is what should have happened.
  7. Finally, repeat parts 2 and 3 after taking out the damping term (-x).

View (General) Instructions on using the JOde Applet

Using the applet written by: Marek Rychlik