Simple Harmonic Motion,

Mechanical Waves, and

Sound
PHY01 – General Physics 1
Senior High School Department
Ideal Spring
𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑
• The force (𝐹𝑥 ) required to stretch or
compress an ideal spring is directly
proportional to the displacement (𝑥)

𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑
𝐹𝑥 = 𝑘𝑥

• Spring Constant (𝑘): a measure of the

stiffness of the spring.
• SI Unit: N/m
Ideal Spring
• Example
• When a tire pressure gauge is pressed against a
tire valve, the air in the tire pushes against a
plunger attached to a spring. Suppose the
spring constant of the spring is k = 320 N/m and
the bar indicator of the gauge extends 2.0 cm
when the gauge is pressed against the tire
valve. What force does the air in the tire apply
to the spring?

𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑
𝐹𝑥 = 6.4𝑁
Hooke’s Law
• Quantifies the restoring force of an Ideal Spring

𝐹𝑥 = −𝑘𝑥
• where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement of the spring
from its unstrained length.
• The minus sign indicates that the restoring force always points in a
direction opposite to the displacement of the spring from its unstrained
length.
Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Harmonic Motion
• The displacement of the shadow:

𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

• Since the object is moving on a uniform

circular motion

𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡)
Simple Harmonic Motion
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡)
• Amplitude (A): the maximum displacement in a
simple harmonic motion
• Period (T): The time required for the simple
harmonic motion to complete in cycle.
2𝜋
𝑇=
𝜔
• SI Unit: seconds (s)
Simple Harmonic Motion
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡)
• Frequency (𝒇): The number of cycles in a certain
period of time.
1
𝑓=
𝑇
• SI Unit: Hertz (Hz)
• Angular Speed (𝝎): Also called as angular
frequency
𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓
• SI Unit: radians/seconds (rad/s)
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Velocity of object in Simple Harmonic Motion

𝑣𝑥 = −𝐴𝜔sin(𝜔𝑡)

• Maximum velocity: occurs when sin 𝜔𝑡 = 1

𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴𝜔
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Example
• The diaphragm of a loudspeaker moves back and forth in simple harmonic
motion to create sound. The frequency of the motion is f = 1.0 kHz and the
amplitude is A = 0.20 mm. (a) What is the maximum speed of the
diaphragm?(b) Where in the motion does this maximum speed occur?

𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 1.3 𝑚Τ𝑠

𝑥𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Acceleration of an object in Simple Harmonic
Motion

𝑎𝑥 = −𝐴𝜔2 cos(𝜔𝑡)

• Maximum Acceleration: occurs when cos 𝜔𝑡 = 1

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴𝜔2
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Example
• The diaphragm of a loudspeaker moves back and forth in simple harmonic
motion to create sound. The frequency of the motion is f = 1.0 kHz and the
amplitude is A = 0.20 mm. (a) What is the maximum acceleration of the
diaphragm, and (b) where does this maximum acceleration occur?

𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 7.9 × 103 𝑚

Τ𝑠2
𝑥𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ±𝐴
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Frequency of vibration (ω)

𝑘
𝜔=
𝑚
• SI Unit: radians/second (𝑟𝑎𝑑Τ𝑠)
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Example
• Astronauts who spend a long time in orbit measure their body
masses as part of their health-maintenance programs. On earth,
it is simple to measure body weight W with a scale and convert
it to mass m using the magnitude g of the acceleration due to
gravity, since W = mg. However, this procedure does not work in
orbit, since gravitational acceleration is absent. Instead,
astronauts use a body-mass measurement device. The device
consists of a spring-mounted chair in which the astronaut sits.
The chair is then started oscillating in simple harmonic motion.
The period of the motion is measured electronically and is
automatically converted into a value of the astronaut's mass,
after the mass of the chair is taken into account. The spring used 𝑚 = 77.2 𝑘𝑔
in one such device has a spring constant of 606 N/m, and the
mass of the chair is 12.0 kg. The measured oscillation period is
2.41 s. Find the mass of the astronaut.
Elastic Potential Energy
• the energy that a spring has by virtue of being stretched or
compressed. For an ideal spring that has a spring constant k and is
stretched or compressed by an amount x relative to its unstrained
length, the elastic potential energy is:

1 2
𝑃𝐸𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 = 𝑘𝑥
2
• SI Unit: Joule (J)
Elastic Potential Energy
• Example
• An object of mass m = 0.200 kg that is
vibrating on a horizontal frictionless
table. The spring has a spring constant
of k = 545 N/m. The spring is stretched
initially to x0 = 4.50 cm and is then
released from rest (see part A of the
drawing). Determine the final
translational speed vf of the object
when the final displacement of the
spring is (a) xf = 2.25 cm and (b) xf = 0
cm.
𝑣𝑥=2.25𝑐𝑚 = 2.03 𝑚Τ𝑠
𝑣𝑥=0𝑐𝑚 = 2.35 𝑚Τ𝑠
Elastic Potential Energy
• Example
• A 0.20-kg ball is attached to a vertical
spring. The spring constant of the spring
is 28 N/m. The ball, supported initially so
that the spring is neither stretched nor
compressed, is released from rest. In the
absence of air resistance, how far does
the ball fall before being brought to a
momentary stop by the spring?

ℎ0 = 0.14𝑚
Simple Pendiulum
• consists of a particle of mass m, attached to a frictionless pivot P by a
cable of length L and negligible mass.

𝑔
𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 =
𝐿
Simple Pendiulum
• Example
• a clock uses a pendulum to keep time. Determine the length of a simple
pendulum that will swing back and forth in simple harmonic motion with a
period of 1.00 s.

𝐿 = 0.248 𝑚
Damped Harmonic Motion
• Harmonic motion where energy is dissipated through some means.
• Application: Shock Absorbers
Damped Harmonic Motion
• Degrees of damping
• Undamped motion (Simple harmonic motion) [1] – Energy is not dissipated
• Underdamped (slightly damped) motion [2],[3] – The object oscillates but will
eventually come to rest.
• Critically damped [4] – The smallest degree of damping that completely
eliminates the oscillations.
• Overdamped [5] – the degree of damping is above the value for critical
damping
Driven Harmonic motion
• Harmonic motion where energy is continually added to an oscillating
system.
• Natural Frequency - the frequency at which the spring system naturally
oscillates (without force applied).

1 𝑘
𝑓=
2𝜋 𝑚
• Resonance - the condition in which a time-dependent force can transmit large
amounts of energy to an oscillating object, leading to a large-amplitude
motion. In the absence of damping, resonance occurs when the frequency of
the force matches a natural frequency at which the object will oscillate.
Waves
• two features common to all waves:
• A wave is a traveling disturbance.
• A wave carries energy from place to place.

• Types of Waves
• Transverse waves
• Longitudinal waves
Waves
• Transverse Waves - he disturbance occurs perpendicular to the
direction of travel of the wave.
• Ex. Radio Waves
Waves
• Longitudinal Waves - the disturbance occurs parallel to the line of
travel of the wave.
• Ex. Sound wave
Waves
• Water wave is neither transverse nor longitudinal
Waves
• Periodic Waves – waves that consist of patters that are produced
repetitively.
Waves
• Cycle
• Amplitude (A) - the maximum excursion of
a particle of the in which the wave exists
from the particle's undisturbed position
• Wavelength (λ)- the horizontal length of
one cycle of the wave
• Period (T) - the time required for one
complete up/down cycle
• Frequency (f) – number of cycles in a
certain amount of time
Waves
• Speed
λ
𝑣=
𝑇
Waves
• Example
• AM and FM radio waves are transverse waves consisting of electric and
magnetic disturbances traveling at a speed of 3.00 × 108 m/s. A station
broadcasts an AM radio wave whose frequency is 1230 × 103 Hz (1230 kHz on
the dial) and an FM radio wave whose frequency is 91.9 × 106 Hz (91.9 MHz
on the dial). Find the distance between adjacent crests in each wave.

λ𝐴𝑀 = 244 𝑚
λ𝐹𝑀 = 3.26 𝑚
Sound
• is a longitudinal wave that is created by a
vibrating object.
• can be created or transmitted only in a
medium, such as a gas, liquid, or solid.
• cannot exist in a vacuum.
Sound
• Each cycle of a sound wave includes one
condensation and one rarefaction.
• Pure tone - A sound with a single
frequency
Sound
• Pressure amplitude - the magnitude of the
maximum change in pressure, measured
relative to the undisturbed or atmospheric
pressure.
• Loudness - n attribute of sound that
depends primarily on the amplitude of the
wave
• the larger the amplitude, the louder the
sound.
Sound
• Sound Intensity - he sound power P
that passes perpendicularly through a
surface divided by the area A of that
surface.

𝑃
𝐼=
𝐴
• SI unit: Watt per meter squared (𝑊Τ𝑚2 )
Sound

• Example
• 12 × 10−5 W of sound power passes
perpendicularly through the surfaces
labeled 1 and 2. These surfaces have areas
of A1 = 4.0 m2 and A2 = 12 m2. Determine
the sound intensity at each surface and
discuss why listener 2 hears a quieter
sound than listener 1.

𝐼1 = 3.0 × 10−5 𝑊ൗ 2
𝑚
𝐼2 = 1.0 × 10−5 𝑊ൗ 2
𝑚
Sound
• Example
• During a fireworks display, a rocket explodes high in the air above the
observers. Assume that the sound spreads out uniformly in all directions and
that reflections from the ground can be ignored. When the sound reaches
listener 2, who is r2 = 640 m away from the explosion, the sound has an
intensity of I2 = 0.10 W/m2. What is the sound intensity detected by listener 1,
who is r1 = 160 m away from the explosion?

𝐼1 = 1.6 𝑊ൗ 2
𝑚
Sound
• Decibels
• a measurement unit
used when comparing
two sound intensities

• Intensity level (𝛽)

𝐼
𝛽 = 10𝑑𝐵 log
𝐼0
Sound
• Example
• Audio system 1 produces an intensity level of β1 = 90.0 dB, and system 2
produces an intensity level of β2 = 93.0 dB. The corresponding intensities (in
W/m2) are I1 and I2. Determine the ratio I2/I1.

𝐼2
= 2.0
𝐼1
Sound
• Doppler Effect - the change in frequency or pitch of the sound
detected by an observer because the sound source and the observer
have different velocities with respect to the medium of sound
propagation.
Sound
• Frequency when source is moving
towards the observer
1
𝑓𝑜 = 𝑓𝑠 𝑣𝑠
1−
𝑣
• Frequency when source is
moving away the observer
1
𝑓𝑜 = 𝑓𝑠 𝑣𝑠
1+
𝑣
Sound
• Example
• A high-speed train is traveling at a speed of 44.7 m/s (100 mi/h) when the
engineer sounds the 415-Hz warning horn. The speed of sound is 343 m/s.
What are the frequency and wavelength of the sound, as perceived by a
person standing at a crossing, when the train is (a) approaching and (b)
leaving the crossing?

𝑓𝑜𝑎 = 477 𝐻𝑧
λ′𝑎 = 0.719 𝑚
𝑓𝑜𝑏 = 367 𝐻𝑧
λ′𝑏 = 0.935 𝑚
Sound
• Moving observer
• Frequency when the observer is moving
towards a stationary source
𝑣𝑜
𝑓𝑜 = 𝑓𝑠 1 +
𝑣
• Frequency when the observer is moving
away a stationary source
𝑣𝑜
𝑓𝑜 = 𝑓𝑠 1 −
𝑣
Sound

• General case – when both the source and the observer is moving
with respect to the medium of sound propagation:
𝑣𝑜
1±
𝑓𝑜 = 𝑓𝑠 𝑣
𝑣𝑠
1∓
𝑣
References
• Young, D. P., Stadler, S., Cutnell, J. D., & Johnson, K. W. (2018). Cutnell
& Johnson Physics. John Wiley & Sons.
• Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2016). Principles of Physics
Extended, International Student Version. India: Wiley India Pvt. Ltd.