IB Physics Unit 4 Oscillation and Waves Worked

Examples
Example 1
How does a displacement time graph show that its oscillations are not damped?
Answer
The amplitude remains constant
Example 2
Calculate the magnitude of the maximum acceleration when the time period is 0.2s and the
maximum displacement is 0.02m.
Answer
Use the equation a=-#^2 * xo
o=2#/t
a=(2#/0.2)^2 * 0.02=19.7m/s
Example 3
Calculate the speed of the oscillation when the time taken is 0.12s to displace by 1.62cm
and maximum displacement is 0.02m.
Answer
Use the equation v = (2#/t)#(xo^2-x^2) Answer
v = (2#/t)#(xo^2-x^2)
v = (2#/0.12)#((0.02)^2-(0.0162^2)
v=31.4#((0.02)^2-(0.0162^2)= 0.37m/s
Example 4
Following the question above, if the diplacement was in a negative direction would be the
direction of its motion.
Answer
Even though it would seem logical that the motion would also be in the negative direction it
is actually positive. This is because if it were displaced by -0.0162 m, -0.0162^2 is actually
a positive number, therefore making the velocity positive. As velocity is a vector quantity, if
it is positive it shows that the direction of motion is to the right.
Example 5
What is the frequency of a logitudinal wave if the period is 0.2s?
Answer
Use the equation f=1/t
f=1/0.2 = 5m/s
Example 6
If the distance from crest to crest is 16cm and the period is 0.2s, what is the speed of the
oscillation?
Answer
Use the equation v=f#
v= 1/0.2 *0.16
v = 5*0.16 = 0.8m/s
Example 7
Describe at what point on the graph below a) acceleration is maximum b) speed is maximum
Answers
a) Acceleration is a maximum at the crests and troughs, so at 1s, 3s, 5s and 7s.
b) Velocity is maximum when displacement from the equilibrium is 0, so at 0s, 2s, 4s and
6s.
Example 8
Explain why the magnitude of the tension in a string at the midpoint of an oscillation is
greater than the weight of the pendulum bob.
Answer
The pendulum bob accelerates towards the centre of its circular path, so there is an upwards
force. This adds to tension produced by weight.
Example 9
The pendulum of a bob is moved to one side until its centre is 25mm above its rest position
and then released. The distance from the fixed point of suspension to the bob at rest iss
0.8m.
a) Show that the speed of the pendulum bob at the midpoint of its oscillation is 0.7m/s.
b) The mass of the pendulum bob is 0.057kg. The centre of the pendulum bob is 0.8m
below the support. Calculate the magnitude of the tension in the string when the pendulum
bob is vertically below the point od suspension.
Answers
a) Use equation mgh=0.5mv^2
gh=0.5v^2
9.81*0.025=0.5v^2
#(9.81*0.25*2)=v
0.7m/s=v
b) Use the equation T=ma+mg and a=(v^2)/r
T=(0.057(0.7^2/0.8))+(0.057*9.81)
T=0.59N
Example 10
What is the shape of an amplitude frequency graph when the oscillation is lightly damped?
Answer
Similar to the graph below:
Example 11
What is meant by resonance with reference to the previous question?
Answer
Resonance is when a particle is forced to oscillate at its natural frequency, it is the opposite
to damping shown above as the amplitude usually greatly increases or is the maximum.
Example 12
How would the graph in question 10 change if the pendulum was immersed in water?
Answer
The immersion of water would cause the oscillation to be heavily damped. Therefore, there
would be a lower amplitude everywhere on the graph; with a much broader resonance peak
and the maximum moves to the left on the graph.