Coupled Oscillator Normal Modes & Beating

Parameters

Number of masses (N): 6 Coupling κ: 1.0 Mass m: 1.0 Damping γ: 0.005

Initial Condition

Excite mode:

Beat: mix mode 1 + 2

Amplitude: 1.0

Live Parameters

ω₁: -

ω₂: -

Δω: -

T_beat: -

Normal mode frequencies: ωₙ = 2√(κ/m)·sin(nπ/2(N+1))
Beating occurs when two adjacent modes are excited — energy oscillates between spatial patterns at frequency Δω = ω₂−ω₁.
Spectrum (bottom) shows mode energy decomposition in real time.