The logical extension of discrete mass systems is one of an infinite number of masses. In the limit, this is a continuous system. Take the generalized beam-column as a generic representation:
Chap. 14: Energy in Thermal Processes Solids, liquids or gases have internal energy t Kinetic energy from random motion of molecules translation rotation vibration
Previously saw (in Unit 19)that a multi degree-of-freedom system has the same basic form of the governing equation as a single degree-of-freedom system The difference is that it is a matrix equation