PHY 101 - Introduction to Physics I

Monsoon semester 2013-2014

LECTURE 17

Department of Physics
School of Natural Sciences
Shiv Nadar University

Linear Ordinary Differential Equation

(Homogeneous)
We solved the ordinary linear differential equation

+ + =
and found the solutions (for 0 and 0) as
=

= ( + )

/ + for <

for =

for >

Linear Ordinary Differential Equation

(Non-homogeneous)
Consider now the differential equation

+ + = ()
This is non-homogeneous counterpart of the
homogeneous

+ +
+ + =

In contrast for non-homogeneous differential equation

at the top

+ +

Solving the Differential Equation

We will focus on a special case
+ + = ()
Consider the companion equation
+ + = ()
Multiplying the second equation with and adding to
the first yields
+ + =
Here we used = + and = + ().

Solving the Differential Equation

+ + =
The structure of this differential equation suggests the
solution of the form
=

Substitution yields

( + + ) =

This gives

( )

=
=

+ ( ) +
( ) +

Solving the Differential Equation

Thus we get the solution for

+ + =

as

with

( )

=

( ) +
( ) +

In polar form can be written as =

with =

and =

Solving the Differential Equation

Thus

The real part of this gives the solution for

+ + = ()
as
= ( + )
with =

( )

and =

This is surprising, since the solution is fully determined!

There are no undermined constants (two expected for a
second order differential equation)

Solving the Differential Equation

It turns out that the full solution for + + = ()
is this particular integral
= ( + )
plus the solution for the corresponding homogeneous
differential equation + + = , referred to as the
complementary function.
Thus, the full solution is = + .
It is easy to verify, since

+ +

=
+ + +
+ +

=
+ + = ()

Solving the Differential Equation

Thus we obtain for
+ + = ; ,
= ( + ) +

/ +

= ( + ) +

if <

if >

= ( + ) + ( + ) / if =

Here =

and =

, and , , are

arbitrary constants which can be fixed using the initial conditions.

The forced harmonic oscillator (Undamped case)

Consider the situation shown in the figure.
cos
()
cos
()

One end of the spring is connected to the mass

as usual, but the other end is being jiggled with
certain frequency instead of being fixed.
Suppose this end is moved according to
= cos ()

The forced harmonic oscillator (Undamped case)

Thus change in the spring length from its
equilibrium length= = cos ()
cos ()

Thus Hookes law gives the equation of motion

as
= = + cos ()
+ = cos (),
where =

The forced harmonic oscillator (Undamped case)

+ = cos

+ = cos ; =

From our analysis of differential equation we know that the

solution to the above equation is

=
() + +

( )

We can see the emergence of an interesting phenomenon

here. If we consider = , i.e., if the natural frequency is
equal to the driving frequency, then amplitude of x diverges.
RESONANCE

The forced harmonic oscillator (Undamped case)

RESONANCE
Let us examine the amplitude

. It has a divergence

at = . Moreover, it changes sign as the driving

frequency crosses the natural frequency .
F0
m

02
2

8
1
2

10

12

14

The forced harmonic oscillator (Undamped case)

The full motion decided by

=
() + +

( )

has the oscillatory part

()
( )

coming because

of the driving force and the simple harmonic part

cos + .
In this case there was no damping. However, practically
there always be some damping, and then we will see that
only the first part plays the crucial role.

The forced harmonic oscillator (Damped case)

= + cos

+ + = cos ; = ,

We know the solution in this case as

= ( + ) +

= ( + ) +

/ +

if <

= ( + ) + ( + )

Here =

if >

if =

and =

, and , , are arbitrary

constants which can be fixed using the initial conditions.

The forced harmonic oscillator (Damped case)

In all these three cases the second term of the solution
(complementary function) becomes negligible after some finite
time because of exponentially decaying nature. Thus in the
STEADY STATE only the first term (particular solution)
dominates, which we examine below:

= ( + ),
with =

( )

and =

Again we have the phenomenon of RESONANCE. However, in

this case (and hence ) does not diverge. Rather it acquires the
maximum value of roughly /(). Also, crosses the value
of /.

The forced harmonic oscillator (Damped case)

The forced harmonic oscillator (Damped case)

Try these interactive Mathematica demonstration projects:

http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/ForcedOscillatorWithDamping/
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/DrivenDampedOscillator/
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/DrivenDampedOscillator/
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/DrivenDampedOscillatorWithResonanceEffect/

Oscillations in complicated systems

We considered so far simple system (a spring and a
mass system). However, these ideas extend to
complicated systems as well.
For objects which can support mechanical vibrations, we
have certain preferred vibration/oscillation modes, called
Eigenmodes. (In our spring-mass system its just
sinusoidal.) These are decided by the shape, size,
geometry, density etc. of the object.
Correspondingly there are Eigenfrequencies which
decide the natural frequencies.

Eigenmodes of a string

Eigenmodes of a rectangular membrane

Image Source: http://resource.isvr.soton.ac.uk/spcg/tutorial/tutorial/Tutorial_files/membranerect1.gif

Eigenmodes of a circular membrane

(More here: http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/demos/membranecircle/circle.html)
Image Source: http://resource.isvr.soton.ac.uk/spcg/tutorial/tutorial/Tutorial_files/membranecirccirc.gif

Some real life examples of occurrence of Resonance:

Tacoma Narrows bridge collapse:
http://youtu.be/qbOjxPCfaFk

Wine glass resonance:

http://youtu.be/BE827gwnnk4

Natural frequency of a swing

http://youtu.be/Qs9xv0XQTZs
(You should read the description below this video. Substitute
= and = / in the expressions for the amplitude and
see if things are consistent with what you observe in the video.)
This video gets funny towards the end when the driving frequency applied by the
man is twice the natural frequency of the swing+kid system. Poor kid!