Forced Differential Equations: Problems to Impact Intuition

Abstract How should our students think about external forcing in differential equations setting, and how can we help them gain intuition? To address this question, we share a variety of problems and projects that explore the dynamics of the undamped forced spring–mass system. We provide a sequence of discovery-based exercises that foster physical and mathematical intuition about polynomial forcing, as we build tools and techniques (including Green's function) to explore the amazing behavior of We encourage the insightful use of a Computer Algebra System, and provide a paired supplemental Maple worksheet.