Paper 3, Section I, B

Classical Dynamics
Part II, 2013

Two equal masses mm are connected to each other and to fixed points by three springs of force constant 5k,k5 k, k and 5k5 k as shown in the figure.

(i) Write down the Lagrangian and derive the equations describing the motion of the system in the direction parallel to the springs.

(ii) Find the normal modes and their frequencies. Comment on your results.