Abstract 

This paper focuses on how the symbolic, numerical and graphical power of the computer algebra system Maple 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.