Example Consider the system of two masses and two springs shown in Fig5.1.1,with a given external force f(r)acting on the right- hand mass m2.We denote by x(t)the displacement (to the right)of the mass m from its static equilibrium position(when the system is motionless and in equilibrium and f()=0),and by y(r)the displacement of the mass m2 from its static position. Thus the two springs are neither stretched nor compressed when x and y are zero. 4口14①yt至2000 Linear of Differential EquationsExample Consider the system of two masses and two springs shown in Fig5.1.1, with a given external force f(t) acting on the right￾hand mass m2. We denote by x(t) the displacement (to the right) of the mass m1 from its static equilibrium position (when the system is motionless and in equilibrium and f(t) = 0), and by y(t) the displacement of the mass m2 from its static position. Thus the two springs are neither stretched nor compressed when x and y are zero. Linear Systems of Differential Equations