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Figure 1
(i) If two simple harmonic motions act along the same direction with the same
frequency, then their resultant is a simple harmonic motion with the same frequency
along that line. The amplitude will be constant but will depend on the phase
difference between the two simple harmonic motions. For example if the driving
forces were out of step there would be no motion at all. A phase difference of
means that one driving force would be trying to move the object in one direction
while the other would be trying to move it in exactly the opposite direction they
would cancel and so the net result would be no motion.
(ii) If their frequencies are different but they still act along the same line then beats
will be produced, the variation in amplitude depending on the difference in
frequency. You will be able to find out about beats in more detail in the section on
wave motion. Simply, they give rise to the warbling sound that you get if two
instruments that are slightly out of tune compared to each other are played
together. The closer the two frequencies come the smaller is the beat frequency
and when they are exactly in tune the beat frequency is zero and the effect
disappears.
(iii) If they act in perpendicular directions there are two sets of possibilities:
1. The frequencies are the same and of equal amplitude:
a phase difference 0 gives a straight line, a phase difference of /2 gives a circle, and a phase
difference of gives zero oscillation.
this gives Lissajous figures, three examples of which are shown in the accompanying diagram.
for a phase difference of /2. The numbers of loops in the x and y directions can be counted,
and this will give the frequency ratio of the two s.h.m.s:
frequency ratio (fx/fy) = number of loops in x-direction/ number of loops in y-direction
Figure 2
fy:fx = 3:2
fy:fx = 3:1
fy:fx = 2:1
Student investigation
The damping of the oscillations of a system can be very important. Investigate the damping in the
two following examples.
(a) Air damping
The effect of air damping on the oscillations of a helical spring may be carried out using a large disc
of light but rigid cardboard fixed to the spring. You should displace the spring by a given amount and
then record the amplitude of the subsequent oscillations. It may be possible to investigate the
dependence of the damping on the size of the cardboard. Plot suitable linear graphs to present your
results. Would a card with turned-up or turned-down edges be as good or better than the flat card?
(b) Liquid damping
Once again a spring may be used, but this time a metal cylinder should be fixed to the end. This
cylinder should be allowed to oscillate in a cylindrical container of liquid. As before, attempt to record
the variation in amplitude of the oscillations.
Investigate the dependence of the damping on (i) the liquid in the cylindrical container, (ii) the
diameter of the cylindrical container.
Displacement
Displacement
Light damping
Heavy damping
Time
Figure 3(b)
Time
Displacement
Figure 3(a)
Critical damping
Time
Figure 3(c)
Displacement ()
Light damping
Final
correct
reading
Critical or dead beat
Heavy damping
Figure 4
Time
(c) Forced oscillations
These are vibrations that are driven by an external force. A simple example of forced vibrations
is a childs swing: as you push it the amplitude increases. A loudspeaker is also an example of
forced oscillations; it is made to vibrate by the force on the magnet on the current in the coil
fixed the speaker cone.
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