Abstract

This paper focuses on how the symbolic, numerical and graphical power of the computer algebra system Maple V Release 5 can be used to explore and visualize with animation free harmonic motion with and without damping and vibration of a mass-spring system forced by an external sharp blow. Dirac's delta function is used to model the external force that acts for a very short period of time. It is also demonstrated how displacement resonance in a forced oscillations readily can be obtained from the transfer function of the system represented by a second order differential equation. And the information contained in the system frequency response may also be conveniently displayed in animated graphical form.