Oscillations

Periodic and oscillatory motions

Motion which repeats itself after a fixed interval of time is called periodic motion.

The to-and-fro motion of a body is called oscillatory motion.

All oscillatory motions are periodic motions. But every periodic motion need not be an
oscillatory motion.

Simple harmonic motion is the to-and-fro motion of body where the force is always
directed towards the mean position and is proportional to the displacement but in the
opposite direction.

Period, frequency and displacement

Time period, T = Time taken/Number of Oscillations

Frequency, n = Number of Oscillations/ Time taken

n=Number of oscillations/Time taken

n=1/T

The displacement variable in general can be understood as the variations in physical

quantity with time in a border sense when the variable involved oscillates.
A linear combination of two periodic functions is also periodic.

Any periodic function can be expressed as a superposition of sine and cosine functions
with suitable coefficients.

Simple harmonic motion (SHM)

A periodic motion where the displacement of an oscillating particle varies sinusoidally

with time ‘t’ is called simple harmonic motion.

The maximum displacement of a particle from the mean position executing simple
harmonic motion is called its amplitude ‘A’.

Time Time This omega is

Independent Dependent called the
angular
frequency of
Amplitude Displacement the simple
harmonic
Velocity
motion and its
Acceleration SI unit is radian
per second.
(ωt +φ)
Simple harmonic motion and uniform circular motion

Since angular velocity is constant, the particle executes uniform circular motion.

If the reference particle, P, executes uniform circular motion, its projection executes
simple harmonic motion.

If the revolving particle began its journey at the extremities of the diameter, then the
projection on the diameters along the y-axis, its displacement will be zero and the initial
phase angle phi would be zero.

Velocity and acceleration in simple harmonic motion

Velocity = - V sin(ωt +φ)

= - ⍺ω sin (ωt+φ)

Acceleration = -ω2x

Force law in simple harmonic motion

F(t) = - mω2x

F(t)= - kx

Angular frequency, ω = √k/m

Linear harmonic oscillator : Force is directly proportional to displacement.

Non linear harmonic oscillator: force is dependent on displacement but not exactly directly
proportional

Energies in simple harmonic motion

Spring constant, k =mω2

Kinetic energy, K.E. = ½ ka2 sin2 (ωt)

Spring force, F = - kx

Potential energy, U(t) = ½ kx2

Total energy = ½ ka2

Spring and simple pendulum

Angular frequency, ω = √k/m

Time period, T = 2π √m/k

Angular acceleration, ⍺ = -mg sin⍬/I

Time period, T= 2π √ /g
Damped simple harmonic motion

Mechanical energy is dissipated while doing work against the resisting force.

The amplitude of the oscillations decreases with time and thus the oscillations of the
pendulum are known as damped oscillations.

Forces that resist the oscillations of a pendulum are known as damping forces.

Damping forces, F1 ∝ -v

Forced oscillations

The vibrations of a body can be of two types, namely free vibrations and forced vibrations.

When a body is excited and released, the vibrations of the body are called free vibrations.

When the body oscillates after an external force with angular frequency, ω0 is applied, the
oscillations of the body are called ‘forced oscillations or driven oscillations’.

Amplitude, A = f0/m (ω2 – ω02)

Resonance

Amplitude, A= f0/ω0b

An increase in the amplitude of a body when the driving frequency is close or equal to its
natural frequency is called resonance.
There are many examples of resonance such as pendulums connected to the same rubber
cord and the shattering of a wineglass by a performing singer.