Chapter 15

Oscillations and Waves

 Oscillations and Waves

• Simple Harmonic Motion

• Energy in SHM
• Some Oscillating Systems
• Damped Oscillations
• Driven Oscillations
• Resonance

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 Simple Harmonic Motion

Simple harmonic motion (SHM)

occurs when the restoring force
(the force directed toward a stable
equilibrium point) is proportional
to the displacement from
equilibrium.

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 Characteristics of SHM
• Repetitive motion through a central equilibrium point.
• Symmetry of maximum displacement.
• Period of each cycle is constant.
• Force causing the motion is directed toward the
equilibrium point (minus sign).
• F directly proportional to the displacement from
equilibrium.
Acceleration = - ω2 x Displacement

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A Simple Harmonic Oscillator (SHO)

Frictionless surface

The restoring force is F = −kx.

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Two Springs with Different Amplitudes

Frictionless surface

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SHO Period is Independent of the Amplitude

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The Period and the Angular Frequency
2π
The period of oscillation is T= .
ω

where ω is the angular frequency of

k
the oscillations, k is the spring ω=
m
constant and m is the mass of the
block.

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 Simple Harmonic Motion
At the equilibrium point x = 0 so, a = 0 also.
When the stretch is a maximum, a will be a maximum too.

The velocity at the end points will be zero, and

it is a maximum at the equilibrium point.

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 Representing Simple Harmonic Motion

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 Representing Simple Harmonic Motion

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 Representing Simple Harmonic Motion

Position - xmax = A

Velocity - vmax = ωA

Acceleration - amax = ω2A

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 A simple harmonic oscillator can be described
mathematically by:
x ( t ) = Acosωt
dx
v (t ) = = -Aωsinωt
dt
dv
a (t ) = = -Aω 2 cosωt
dt where A is the amplitude of
the motion, the maximum
Or by: displacement from
equilibrium, Aω = vmax, and
x ( t ) = Asinωt
Aω2 = amax.
dx
v (t ) = = Aωcosωt
dt
dv
a (t ) = = -Aω 2 sinωt
dt
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 Linear Motion - Circular Functions

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 Projection of Circular Motion

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Circular Motion is the superposition of two linear SHO that are
900 out of phase with each other

y = A sin(ωt )

x = A cos(ωt )

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 Shifting Trig Functions

 sin  The minus sign means that the

x= A  ωt -φ 
 cos  phase is shifted to the right.

x= A { }
sin  t
2π
cos  T
- ϕ 

A plus sign indicated the phase
is shifted to the left

x = Asin ωt - π2 
x = A ( sinωt cos π2 - sin π2 cosωt )
x = A ( sinωt (0) - (1)cosωt )
x = -Acosωt

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 Shifting Trig Functions
 π
sin  ωt -  = 0 Shifted Trig Functions

 2 1.50

sin(ωt)
π 1.00
sin(ωt-δ)
ωt - = 0
2 0.50

π
ωt = -3.00 -2.00 -1.00
0.00
0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00
2 -0.50
π 1 1 T
t= ; = -1.00
2ω ω 2π
-1.50
π T T
t= = Time

2 2π 4

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 Energy

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 Equation of Motion & Energy

Assuming the table is frictionless:

∑F x
= - kx = ma x
k
Classic form for SHM a x ( t ) = - x ( t ) = - ω2 x ( t )
m

1 2 1 2
Also, E = K ( t ) + U ( t ) = mv ( t ) + kx ( t )
2 2

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 Spring Potential Energy

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 Spring Total Energy

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Approximating Simple Harmonic Motion

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Approximating Simple Harmonic Motion

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 Potential and Kinetic Energy

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The period of oscillation of an object in an ideal mass-spring
system is 0.50 sec and the amplitude is 5.0 cm.
What is the speed at the equilibrium point?

At equilibrium x = 0:
1 2 1 2 1 2
E = K + U = mv + kx = mv
2 2 2

Since E = constant, at equilibrium (x = 0) the

KE must be a maximum. Here v = vmax = Aω.

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Example continued:

The amplitude A is given, but ω is not.

2π 2π
ω= = = 12.6 rads/sec
T 0.50 s

and v = Aω = (5.0 cm )(12.6 rads/sec ) = 62.8 cm/sec

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The diaphragm of a speaker has a mass of 50.0 g and responds to a
signal of 2.0 kHz by moving back and forth with an amplitude of
1.8×10−4 m at that frequency.

(a) What is the maximum force acting on the

diaphragm?

∑ F = Fmax = ma max = m A ω = (
mA(2πf ) 2
= 4π)2
mAf 2 2

The value is Fmax=1400 N.

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Example continued:

(b) What is the mechanical energy of the diaphragm?

Since mechanical energy is conserved, E = Kmax = Umax.

1 2 The value of k is unknown so use Kmax.

U max = kA
2
1 2 1 2 1 1
mvmax = m( Aω ) = mA2 (2πf )
2 2
K max = mvmax K max =
2 2 2 2

The value is Kmax= 0.13 J.

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Example: The displacement of an object in SHM is given by:

y (t ) = (8.00 cm )sin [(1.57 rads/sec ) t ]

What is the frequency of the oscillations?

Comparing to y(t) = A sinωt gives A = 8.00 cm

and ω = 1.57 rads/sec. The frequency is:

ω 1.57 rads/sec
f = = = 0.250 Hz
2π 2π

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 Example continued:

Other quantities can also be determined:

2π 2π
The period of the motion is T= = = 4.00 sec
ω 1.57 rads/sec

xmax = A = 8.00 cm
vmax = Aω = (8.00 cm )(1.57 rads/sec ) = 12.6 cm/sec
amax = Aω 2 = (8.00 cm )(1.57 rads/sec ) = 19.7 cm/sec2
2

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 What About Gravity?

When a mass-spring system is oriented vertically,

it will exhibit SHM with the same period and
frequency as a horizontally placed system.

The effect of gravity is canceled out.

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Why We Ignore Gravity with Vertical Springs

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 The Simple Pendulum

A simple pendulum is constructed by attaching a

mass to a thin rod or a light string. We will also
assume that the amplitude of the oscillations is
small.

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 The Simple Pendulum
The pendulum is best
described using polar
coordinates.
The origin is at the pivot
point. The coordinates are
(r, φ). The r-coordinate
points from the origin
along the rod. The φ-
coordinate is perpendicular
to the rod and is positive in
the counter clockwise
direction.

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Apply Newton’s 2 nd ∑ Fφ = −mg sin φ = maφ
Law to the pendulum 2
v
bob. ∑ Fr = T − mg cos φ = m r
If we assume that φ <<1 rad, then sin φ ≈ φ and cos φ ≈1, the angular
frequency of oscillations is then:
∑ Fφ = −mg sin φ = maφ = mLα
− mg sin φ = mLα
g
α = −( g / L) sin φ ω=
L
α = −( g / L)φ
2π L
The period of oscillations is T= = 2π
ω g
MFMcGraw-PHY 2425 Chap 15Ha-Oscillations-Revised 10/13/2012 36
Example: A clock has a pendulum that performs one full swing
every 1.0 sec. The object at the end of the string weighs 10.0 N.
What is the length of the pendulum?

L
T = 2π
g

gT 2 (9.8 m/s 2 )(1.0 s )

2

Solving for L: L= 2
= 2
= 0.25 m
4π 4π

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The gravitational potential energy of a pendulum is
U = mgy.
Taking y = 0 at the lowest point of the swing, show that y = L(1-cosθ).

θ
Lcosθ
L L

y = L(1 − cos θ )
y=0

MFMcGraw-PHY 2425 Chap 15Ha-Oscillations-Revised 10/13/2012 38

 The Physical Pendulum

A physical pendulum is any rigid object that is free to

oscillate about some fixed axis. The period of
oscillation of a physical pendulum is not necessarily the
same as that of a simple pendulum.

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 The Physical Pendulum

I
T = 2π
MgD

I is the moment of inertia about

the given axis. The Icm from the
table will need to be modified
using the parallel axis theorem.

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 Compound Pendulum I
T = 2π
MgD

I = Irod + Idisk

M = mrod + Mdisk

D = distance from the axis to

the center of mass of the rod
and disk.

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 Damped Oscillations

When dissipative forces such as friction are not

negligible, the amplitude of oscillations will decrease
with time. The oscillations are damped.

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 Damped Oscillations Equations
d 2x dx
m 2 + b + mω0 x = 0
dt dt
 -t 
x(t) = A0 exp   cos( ω ' t +δ)
 2τ 

2
'  b  k m
ω = ω0 1-  ω0 = τ= ; bc = 2mω0
 2mω0  m b

For b > bc the system is overdamped. For b = bc the system is

critically damped. The object doesn’t oscillate and returns to its
equilibrium posion very rapidly.

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 Damped Oscillations

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Graphical representations of damped oscillations:

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 Damped Oscillations
•Overdamped: The system returns to equilibrium without
oscillating. Larger values of the damping the return to
equilibrium slower.

•Critically damped : The system returns to equilibrium as

quickly as possible without oscillating. This is often
desired for the damping of systems such as doors.
•Underdamped : The system oscillates (with a slightly
different frequency than the undamped case) with the
amplitude gradually decreasing to zero.
Source: Damping @ Wikipedia

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 Damped Oscillations

The larger the damping the more difficult it is to assign

a frequency to the oscillation.

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 Damped Oscillations

2
EαA

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 Forced Oscillations

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 Forced Oscillations and Resonance

A force can be applied periodically to a damped oscillator

(a forced oscillation).

When the force is applied at the natural frequency of the

system, the amplitude of the oscillations will be a
maximum. This condition is called resonance.

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 Forced Oscillations Equations
d 2x dx
m 2 + b + mω0 x = F0 cosωt
dt dt

ma friction spring applied force

x = Acos( ωt - δ )

F0 bω
A= tanδ =
m 2 (ω02 - ω 2 )2 + b 2 ω 2 m(ω02 - ω 2 )

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 Energy and Resonance
d 2x dx
m 2 + b + mω0 x = F0 cosωt
dt dt

At resonance v and Fo are in phase

dx
vx = = -ωAsin(ωt - δ)
dt
π
v x = -ωAsin(ωt - ) = +ω Acosωt
2

Energy α A2 = A02 exp  

-t
τ ω0 m
Q = ω0 τ =
E = 21 mω 2 A2 = E0 exp  
-t b
τ
E0 = 21 mω 2 A02 ; τ = m b

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 Power Transfer
ω0
Q=
∆ω

The dissipation in the system, represented by “b” keeps the

amplitude from going to infinity.
MFMcGraw-PHY 2425 Chap 15Ha-Oscillations-Revised 10/13/2012 53
 Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Nov. 7, 1940

MFMcGraw-PHY 2425 Chap 15Ha-Oscillations-Revised 10/13/2012 54

 Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Nov. 7, 1940

MFMcGraw-PHY 2425 Chap 15Ha-Oscillations-Revised 10/13/2012 55

 Tacoma Narrows Bridge

The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1940. It

collapsed four months later on November 7, 1940, at 11:00 AM (Pacific
time) due to a physical phenomenon known as aeroelastic flutter caused
by a 67 kilometres per hour (42 mph) wind.
The bridge collapse had lasting effects on science and engineering. In
many undergraduate physics texts the event is presented as an example of
elementary forced resonance with the wind providing an external periodic
frequency that matched the natural structural frequency (even though the
real cause of the bridge's failure was aeroelastic flutter[1]).
Its failure also boosted research in the field of bridge aerodynamics/
aeroelastics which have themselves influenced the designs of all the
world's great long-span bridges built since 1940. - Wikipedia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mclp9QmCGs

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 Normal Mode Vibrations

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 End of Chapter Problems

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 Chap 14 - #92

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 Extra Slides

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 The Full Wave Equation
∂2 y 1 ∂2 y
2
- 2 2 =0
∂x v ∂t

y(t) = Asin(kx -ωt)   x t 

y(t) = Asin  2π  -  
2π 2π   λ T 
k= ; ω = 2πf =
λ T
Traveling with the wave the phase is constant

x t dx dt
- = Constant - =0
λ T λ T
dx λ
= =λf =v Wave velocity
dt T
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