Vibrations and Waves

Chapter 11
Simple Harmonic Motion

Chapter 11 Section 1
 Periodic Motion
Any repetitive, or cyclical, types of
motion
– Examples?

Simple Harmonic Motion is a specialized

form of periodic motion
 Simple Harmonic Motion
Periodic vibration around an
equilibrium position
Restoring force must be
–proportional to displacement
from equilibrium
–in the direction of equilibrium
 Restoring Force
The push or pull that brings the
mass back towards equilibrium
– The restoring force of a pendulum
is a component of the bob’s weight.
– The restoring force for a mass-
spring system is from the stretch (or
compression) of the spring
 Simple Harmonic Motion
Common examples include a
mass-spring system or a
pendulum
– For a pendulum, SHM only for small
angles (within 10 degrees of
vertical)
Describe
speed,
acceleration,
and restoring
force at each
point.
Describe
speed,
acceleration,
and restoring
force at each
point.
Virtual Simple Harmonic Motion
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p
hp?sim=Pendulum_Lab
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p
hp?sim=Masses_and_Springs
Measuring Simple Harmonic
Motion

Chapter 11 Section 2
 Amplitude
The maximum displacement
from equilibrium.
 Period
The time it takes for one complete cycle of
motion.
Represented by the symbol T
Unit of seconds
 Frequency
The number of cycles completed in a unit
of time (usually seconds)
Represented by the symbol f
Unit of s-1 (also known as Hertz)
 Period and Frequency
Period and frequency are inversely
related.

f = 1/T and T = 1/f

A mass spring system completes
10 cycles each second.
What is the period?
– 1/10 s
What is the frequency?
– 10 cycles per second (10 Hz)
Factors Affecting Pendulums
For small amplitudes, the period of a pendulum
does not depend on the mass or amplitude.
Length does affect the period of a pendulum.
 Factors Affecting Mass-Spring
Systems
The heavier the mass, the longer the period
(more inertia)
The stiffer the spring, the less time it will take to
complete one cycle.
 11.2 Problems
Page 379 all
Page 381 all except for #3 on Section
Review
Properties of Waves
Chapter 11 Section 3
Some general terminology…
Pulse – a single disturbance, single cycle
Periodic wave – continuous, repeated
disturbances
Sine wave – a wave whose source vibrates with
simple harmonic motion
Medium – whatever the
wave is traveling through
 Wave Motion
A wave is the motion of energy away from a
source of periodic disturbance.
Mechanical waves require a physical medium to
travel through.
– Examples: sound, disturbance in a slinky
Examples of physical media are water, air,
string, slinky.
 Electromagnetic waves
Do not require a physical medium.
Examples include x-rays, visible light, radio
waves, etc.
 Transverse Waves
Particles of the medium move perpendicular to
the direction of energy transfer
You should be able to identify crests, troughs,
wavelength (distance traveled during one full
cycle), and amplitude

Crest

Trough
 Longitudinal Waves
Particles of the medium move parallel to the
direction of energy transfer (slinky demo)
Be able to Identify compressions, rarefactions,
wavelengths

Compressions Rarefactions
 Waves transfer energy
Note that, while energy is transferred from point A
to point B, the particles in the medium do not move
from A to B.
– Individual particles of the medium merely vibrate
back and forth in simple harmonic motion

The rate of energy transfer is proportional to

the square of the amplitude
– When amplitude is doubled, the energy carried
increases by a factor of 4.
 Wave speed
Wave speed is determined completely by the
characteristics of the medium
– For an unchanging medium, wave speed is constant

Calculate speed of a wave by multiplying wavelength by frequency.

–v=fxλ
 Practice #1
Q: Microwaves travel at the speed of light,
3.00108 m/s. When the frequency of
microwaves is 9.00 109 Hz, what is their
wavelength?

A: 0.0300 m
 Practice #2
Q: The piano string tuned to middle C
vibrates with a frequency of 264 Hz.
Assuming the speed of sound in air is 343
m/s, find the wavelength of the sound
waves produced by the string.

A: 1.30 m
 11.3 Problems
Page 387 1-4
Page 388 1-5
Wave Interactions
Chapter 11 Section 4
 Interference
The combination of two or more waves in a medium at the same time.
– Matter cannot occupy the same space at the same time, but energy can.
The Superposition Principle describes what happens when waves
interfere…
– Waves (energy) pass through each other completely unaffected
– The medium will be displaced an amount equal to the vector sum of what the
waves would have done individually
 Constructive Interference
Waves are on the same
side of equilibrium.
Waves meet, combine
according to the
superposition principle,
and pass through
unchanged.
Amplitude larger than
originals
 Destructive Interference
Waves are on the
opposite sides of
equilibrium.
Waves meet, combine
according to the
superposition principle,
and pass through
unchanged.
Amplitude smaller than
at least one original
wave
Complete Destructive Interference
 Interference patterns
Interference
patterns result
from continuous
interference.
Check it out!
 Reflection
The bouncing of a wave when it
encounters the boundary between two
different media
 Fixed End Reflection
At a fixed boundary, waves are inverted as they
are reflected.
 Free End Reflection
At a free boundary, waves are reflected on the
same side of equilibrium
 Standing Waves
A wave pattern that results when two waves of
the same frequency, wavelength, and amplitude
travel in opposite directions and interfere.
 Standing wave parts
Node – point that maintains zero displacement
Antinode – point at which largest displacement
occurs
 Standing waves
Only certain frequencies produce standing
wave patterns.
 If a string is 4.0 m long, what are
three wavelengths that will produce
standing waves on this string?