FAQ: In the mass-spring system modelling the car, one of the springs is fixed to a wall. How does that model the car when that "spring" on the car is connected to the chassis?

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Respondant: Steve Waydo
Date: October 4, 2004

If the weight of the car is very large compared to the effects of the driving force on the suspension, then modelling the car as a fixed wall with springs is not a bad approximation. However if it is not the case, the boundary conditions you would have in order to model a suspension system in a car may be diffrent. You may leave out the wall and have the weight of the car supported by a spring.

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