In: Advanced Math
As a spring is heated, its spring “constant” decreases in value. Suppose a spring is heated so that the spring “constant” at time t is k(t) = 6 − t. If the unforced mass-spring system has mass m = 2 kg and a damping constant b = 1 N-sec/m with initial conditions x(0) = 3 m and x' (0) = 0 m/sec, then the displacement x(t) is governed by the initial value problem 2x'' + x' − (6 − t)x = 0; x(0) = 3, x' (0) = 0.
Find the first four nonzero terms in a power series solution centered at t = 0.