Calculator · Dynamics & Control

Natural Frequency Calculator

Undamped natural frequency, critical damping and damping ratio of a single-degree-of-freedom mass–spring–damper system from its physical mass, damping and stiffness.

Physical parameters

Results

Natural frequency ωₙ = √(k/m)1.414 rad/s
Natural frequency fₙ = ωₙ/2π0.2251 Hz
Natural period Tₙ4.443 s
Critical damping c_c = 2√(km)2.828 N·s/m
Damping ratio ζ = c/c_c0
Damping regimeundamped
Damped natural frequency ω_d1.414 rad/s

Technical reference

ωₙ = √(k/m)

fₙ = ωₙ / (2π)

m
lumped mass[kg]
k
spring stiffness[N/m]
ωₙ
undamped natural frequency[rad/s]
fₙ
undamped natural frequency[Hz]

This calculator focuses on the undamped ωₙ and fₙ derived from m and k; when c is supplied, it also reports critical damping, ζ and the damping regime, and ω_d only when the system is underdamped (ζ < 1). For additional SDOF quantities — damped period, logarithmic decrement, quality factor, compliance, poles and the X(s)/F(s) transfer function — see the Mass–Spring–Damper Calculator.

Assumptions

  • Single degree of freedom, lumped mass, linear spring and linear viscous damper.
  • Constant parameters; no Coulomb friction, backlash or geometric nonlinearity.
  • ωₙ is the UNDAMPED natural frequency. The frequency actually observed in a damped free decay is ω_d = ωₙ√(1 − ζ²), reported separately above.

Continue in the Lab

Open these exact parameters in the Vibrations Lab to see the free decay, forced response, resonance and transmissibility.

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