Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2020 / ii / Paper 1 / 8B / Solution

Let each mass be $m$ and each spring constant be $k$, with the $x_i$ denoting longitudinal displacements from equilibrium. The Lagrangian isThe inverse coordinate transformation isSubstitution givesThus the Euler-Lagrange equations separate into a symmetric pair,and an antisymmetric pair,

The symmetric normal modes are:

For antisymmetric modes, the squared dimensionless frequencies are the eigenvalues ofnamely $2\mp \sqrt{2}$. They giveandIn the original coordinates their mode shapes are respectivelyand