Q30E

Question

Aging spring. As a spring ages, its “spring constant” decreases on value. One such model for a mass-spring system with an aging spring is mx"(t)+bx'(t)+ke- ηtx(t)=0 .

Where m is the mass, b the damping constant, k and η  positive constants and x(t) displacement of the spring from equilibrium position. Let m=1 kg, b=2 Nsec/m, k=1 N/m, η =1 sec-1. The system is set in motion by displacing the mass 1m from it equilibrium position and releasing it (x(0)=1, x'(0)=0). Find at least the first four nonzero terms in a power series expansion of about t=0 of displacement.

Step-by-Step Solution

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Answer

The first four nonzero terms in a power series expansion of about of displacement are x(t)=1-1/2t2+1/2t3-1/4 t4+...

1Define power series expansion:

The power series approach is used in mathematics to find a power series solution to certain differential equations. In general, such a solution starts with an unknown power series and then plugs that solution into the differential equation to obtain a recurrence relation for the coefficients. 

A differential equation's power series solution is a function with an infinite number of terms, each holding a different power of the dependent variable

It is generally given by the formula,

y(x)= Σ n=0 axn

2Find the expression:

As given,

mx"(t)+bx'(t)+ke-ηt x(t)=0

Let

x(t)= Σ n=0 atn

x'(t)= Σ n=1 natn-1

x''(t)= Σ n=2 n(n-1) atn-2

The Maclaurin series is,

e-t=  Σ n=0 (-t)n/n!

=  Σ n=0 (-1)(t)n/n!


Replace this in the equation.

Σ n=2 n(n-1) atn-2+2 Σ n=1 natn-1+Σ n=0 (-1)(t)n/n! =0

You will set coefficients equal to zero. The expression is,

2a2+2a1+a=0 

a2= - (2a1+a0)/2


Hence, the expression is,

2a2+2a1+a=0 

a2= - (2a1+a0)/2

3Find the first four nonzero terms:

Now you will find the coefficient.

a2= - (2a1+a0)/2

=-(2 (0)+1)/2

=-1/2


Now,

6a3+4a2-a0+a1=0

a3= (-4a2+a0-a1)/6

a3 =[-4 (-1/2)+1-0]/6

a3 =1/2


And

+12a4+6a3+(1/2)a0-a1+a2=0

a4=-[-6a3-(1/2)a0+a1+a2]/12

=[-6(1/2)-(1/2)(1)+0-(-1/2)]/12

=-1/4

Substitute the coefficients in the expression.

x(t)=1-1/2 t2+ 1/2 t3-1/4 t4+...

Hence, these are the first four nonzero terms.