Oscillations of linear chains

This chapter addresses chain of particles connected by springs as the simplest models used in theory of solids, the travelling and standing waves on a chain, and the free and forced oscillations of N particles which are connected by springs and which can move either along a straight line or along a ring. The chapter also addresses the free and forced oscillations of 2N particles, alternating either with masses or with elastic constants; the free and forced oscillations of the artificial line with inductances and capacitors; and the elastic rod as the limiting case of the system of N particles connected by spring in the limit N tends to infinity.