Chapter 3:

The Free Vibrations of Physical Systems

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The Basic Mass-Spring System

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Solving the Harmonic Oscillator Equation Using
Complex Exponentials

t x
t X

Superposition of Complex solutions

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 Solving the Harmonic Oscillator Equation Using
Complex Exponentials

α
t x
t X

Superposition of Complex solutions with non-zero

initial phase angle.
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 Examples of SHM

Floating Objects

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 Examples of SHM
Pendulums
O
a) Simple Pendulum
ϴ

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 Examples of SHM
Pendulums

b) Compound Pendulum
O h

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 Examples of SHM

c) Water in a U-tube

y
y
z

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 Decay of Free Vibrations

2
d X dX
m 2 b  kX  0
dt dt

2
d X dX
2
    2
0 X  0
dt dt

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 Decay of Free Vibrations

Complex Exponential Method:

Z t   A exp  jpt  j 

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 Decay of Free Vibrations

x( t )  t
2
A0 e 0

Under damped Simple Harmonic motion

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The Quality Factor (Quality of the Oscillatory System)

The Damped Oscillator is characterized by two parameters:

ω0 and 
The Quality Factor

0
Q


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The Quality Factor (Quality of the Oscillatory System)

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The Quality Factor

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The Quality Factor

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The Quality Factor

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 The Effects of Very Large Damping:
2
If : b k
2

4m m

Then:
  t    t 
xt   A1 exp   t   A2 exp   t 
 2   2 

Overdamped

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The Effects of Very Large Damping:
2
If : b k
2

4m m

Then:

  t 
xt    A  Bt  exp  
 2 
Critically Damped

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• Overdamped

F = -kx

O x
(The equilibrium
position)

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With the initial conditions : x(0)  x 0 ; x (0)  0
x(t)
x0


x0    2 


  

 t
 

  2  t
  


x(t )      e     e 
2   2  2  

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• Critically Damped

F = -kx

O x
(The equilibrium
position)

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 Critical Damping
0
The most general solution :

 t
x( t )  (A  B t ) e 2

i) With the initial conditions : x(0)  x 0 ; x (0)  0


    t x(t)
x ( t )  x 0 1  t  e 2

 2 

t
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ii) With the initial conditions : x(0)  0 ; x (0)  v 0

 t
x( t )  v 0 t e 2

x(t)

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 Applications of Critical Damping
In many systems, quick damping is desirable to
bring the system to a quick stop.
i) Needle in meters such as ammeter, voltmeter
etc.

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i) Door closers :

Out of the two non-oscillatory damping – over

damping and critical damping – it is the latter
that brings the system back to equilibrium
quicker

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Problem: Damped Oscillator

κ a

2b

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Problem: 3.16 According to classical electromagnetic
theory an accelerated electron radiates energy at the
rate Ke2a2/c3, where K =6*109N-m2/C2.

(a) If an electron were oscillating along a straight line

with frequency ν (Hz) and amplitude A, how much
energy it would radiate away during one cycle. Assume
that the motion is described adequately by
x=Asin2πνt during any cycle.

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Problem: 3.16 According to classical electromagnetic
theory an accelerated electron radiates energy at the
rate Ke2a2/c3, where K =6*109N-m2/C2.

(b) What is the Q of this Oscillator.

(c) How many periods of oscillations would elapse

before the energy of the motion was down to half
the initial value.

(d) Putting for ν a typical optical frequency estimate

numerically the approximate Q and half-life of the
radiating system.
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 Superposition of SHMs at right angles

Prob. 3.19
y
Mass m connected to two
x
springs on frictionless
horizontal table. Unstretched (k) (k)
lengths of springs  0  

a) Eq. of motion along x

b) Eq. of motion along y

c) Ratio of periods along x & y

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d) x & y as functions of time if x(0) = y(0) = A and mass
starts from rest
9
e) Sketch path of mass for   0
5

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e) 3
x   y
2
y
3

4 2

5
1 1
2

4
x

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