12-3 Energy in SHM (P304)

Take a spring oscillator as an example,

𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
Potential Energy: 𝑼 = 𝒌𝒙 = 𝒌𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐 ( 𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓)
𝟐 𝟐
k 𝟏
 =2 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝑨𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐 𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓
𝟐
m
𝟏 𝟏
Kinetic Energy: 𝑲 = 𝒎𝒗 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝑨𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓
𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
= 𝒌𝑨 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝟐 ( 𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓)
𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
𝑬 = 𝑲 + 𝑼 = 𝒎𝒗 + 𝒌𝒙 = 𝒌𝑨
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
简谐振动是无阻尼自由振动，系统无外界输入能量，
也不受任何阻力作用，系统机械能守恒。
 𝟏 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
From 𝒎𝒗 + 𝒌𝒙 = 𝒌𝑨 we find that
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐

𝒌 𝟐
𝒗(𝒙) = ± (𝑨 − 𝒙𝟐 )
𝒎
The  sign means that at a given value of x
the body can be moving in either direction.
The maximum speed vmax occurs at x=0,
𝒌
𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝑨 = 𝝎𝑨
𝒎
This agrees with what we obtained in Slide 21.
Conclusion:
(1) In an oscillatory system,
both K and U are periodic
functions of time t. When U=0,
K is its max and vice versa. The
 between them is /2.

(2) Total energy of oscillatory

system is a constant.
𝟏 𝟐
𝑬 = 𝒌𝑨 ∝ 𝑨𝟐
𝟐

振幅不仅给出简谐振动运动的范围，
而且还反映振动系统总能量的大小
及振动强度。
Example:
A mass m connected to two springs of k1 and k2 oscillates
on a frictionless ramp. (a) Proof its motion is SHM; (b)
find its frequency and (c) maximum speed if the
maximum displacement is xm.

k1 k2
x
o
x  P
Example:
A mass m is connected to two springs of spring constants
k1 and k2 as in Figure. When t=0s, x=A. Calculate:
(a) angular frequency ω; (b) v(x); (c) a(x); (d) x(t).
 12-4 Pendulums
1. The Simple Pendulum (单摆) (P307)
The restoring force 𝑭 = −𝒎𝒈𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
“-” means the force is in the direction opposite to θ
For small angles 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 ≈ 𝜽
𝒎𝒈
𝑭 ≈ −𝒎𝒈𝜽 = − 𝒙
𝑳
For small displacement, the motion
of simple pendulum is SHM.
𝒎𝒈 𝒈 𝑳
𝒌= , 𝒘= , 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅
𝑳 𝑳 𝒈
Geologists use this instrument to measure g !
2. The Physical Pendulum (复摆) (P308)
The torque of physical pendulum to axis O,
 = −mghsin
“-” indicates that the  acts to reduce 
When  is small, sin    = − mgh 
Based on rotational law,  = I
2
d mgh mgh
2
= −  = − 2
 Let  = ,
dt I I
d 2
then 2 +  2
 = 0,  = max cos(t + )
dt
2 I
It is a SHM. Its period T = = 2
 mgh
Read the statements & examples in P307~309!
 12-5 Resonance (共振)
1. Damped (阻尼) Oscillations (P310)
When the motion of an oscillator is damped by a
frictional force, its amplitude decreases with time.
The motion is called damped oscillation (or damped
harmonic motion).

The component of damping force Fd along x is,

Fd = −bv “-”: Fd opposes the motion.
b: damping constant (阻尼因子)
d2 x dx
m 2 +b + kx = 0
dt dt

𝒙 = 𝑨𝒆−𝒃𝒕/𝟐𝒎 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝝎′𝒕 + 𝝓)

 𝒙 = 𝑨𝒆−𝒃𝒕/𝟐𝒎 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝝎′𝒕 + 𝝓)
k b 2
' 1 k b2
'= − f = = −
m 4m 2 2 2 m 4m 2
The frequency is lower, and the period longer than
for undamped SHM.
b
=
2m

The constant  =b/2m is a measure of how quickly the

oscillations decrease toward zero.
The time tL = 2m/b is the time taken for the oscillations
to drop to 1/e of the original amplitude.
tL is called the “mean lifetime” of the oscillations.
Three common cases of heavily damped system are
shown based on relation of b2 to 4mk in below Fig.

Curve B — critical damping 临界阻尼:

b = 4mk
2

Curve A — underdamped 欠阻尼:

b2  4mk
Curve C — overdamped 过阻尼:
b 2  4mk
If the oscillator is damped, the mechanical energy is
not constant but decreases with time.
2. Forced Oscillations and Resonance (P313)

A damped oscillator will eventually stop moving. But

we can maintain a constant-amplitude oscillation by
applying a force that varies with time in a periodic way.

We call this external force driving force

Fext = F0 cos  d t

The equation of motion with damping and driving

force is
d2 x dx
m 2 +b + kx = F0 cos d t
dt dt
 x = A0 e − b t / 2 m cos( 0 t + 0 ) + A cos( d t +  )
The first term approaches zero in time, we need to be
concerned only with
x = Acos( d t +  )
F0
A=
m[( 0 −  d ) + b  d / m ]
2 2 2 2 2 2 1/ 2

0 − d
−1
2 2
 = tan
 d (b / m )
The amplitude can become large when the driving
frequency d is near the natural frequency,  d   0
as long as the damping is not too large.
  d   0 (resonance)
The natural vibrating frequency of a system is its
resonant frequency.

Large-amplitude oscillation of the Tacoma Narrows

Bridge, due to gusty winds, led to its collapse (1940).
 12-6 Superposition of Oscillations
1. Superposition of two SHM in same direction with
same frequency (同方向、同频率两简谐运动的合成):
x1=A1cos( t+ 1)  
A
A2
x2=A2cos( t+ 2)

2 
x = x1+ x2 That is, x =Acos( t+ ) 1
A1
x
The resultant oscillation is also SHM, and its frequency
is also  ,
where 𝑨= 𝑨𝟐𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐𝟐 + 𝟐𝑨𝟏 𝑨𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝝓𝟐 − 𝝓𝟏 )

𝑨𝟏 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝝓𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝝓𝟐
𝐭𝒂𝒏 𝝓 =
𝑨𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝝓𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝝓𝟐
The resultant oscillation is related to 

the initial phase difference 2-1 . A2 A

Two special cases: 

2  A1
1 x
• If 2 − 1 = 2k , (k = 0,1,2,  )
𝑨= 𝑨𝟐𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐𝟐 + 𝟐𝑨𝟏 𝑨𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝝓𝟐 − 𝝓𝟏 )
x Sum Osci.

= 𝑨𝟐𝟏 + 𝑨𝟐𝟐 + 𝟐𝑨𝟏 𝑨𝟐

A=A1+A2 T 3T t
O T 2T t
2 2
—–maximum amplitude
(两分振动同相,相互加强).
•• If 2 − 1 = (2k + 1) (k = 0,1,2...)
A=|A1-A2| x x2
x1
—–minimum amplitude Sum Osci.
T 3T
(两分振动反相,相互减弱) O
2
T
2
2T
t

If A1=A2, then A=0 !

••• In general, A1 − A2  A  ( A1 + A2 )
The above results shows us that phase difference of two
SHM plays an important role to superposition!
In similar way, we may get the results for the super-
position of multi-oscillations.
2. Superposition of two SHM in same direction with
different frequencies (同方向、不同频率两简谐运动合成):

 A If 𝝎𝟏 = 𝝎𝟐 , ∆𝝓 = 𝑪,
A2
2 if 𝝎𝟏 ≠ 𝝎𝟐 , ∆𝝓 will vary,

  1 A1 resultant oscillation isn’t SHM.
x

𝒙𝟏 = 𝑨𝟏 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝝎𝟏 𝒕 + 𝝓𝟏 ) Assume A1 = A2 = A,
𝒙𝟐 = 𝑨𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝝎𝟐 𝒕 + 𝝓𝟐 ) 1 = 2 = 

 2 − 1  2 + 1
x = x1 + x2 = 2 A cos( t ) cos( t +)
2 2
A special case: when  1 and  2 are slightly different,
i.e.  2- 1   2+ 1
ഥ + 𝝓) where
𝒙 = 𝑨 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒕
𝝎𝟐 − 𝝎𝟏
𝑨(𝒕) = 𝟐𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬( 𝒕) slowly varies with t
𝟐
𝝎𝟐 + 𝝎𝟏
ഥ + 𝝓 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔(
𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕 𝒕 + 𝝓)
𝟐
quickly varies with t
x
x1 x2

o
t

合振动可看作振幅缓变的简谐振动
Beat (拍) phenomenon:
The phenomenon that resultant oscillation increases or
decreases slowly (合振动忽强忽弱的现象).

The frequency at which beats occur is (beat frequency):

𝝎𝟐 − 𝝎𝟏
𝒇𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 =| | = |𝒇𝟐 − 𝒇𝟏 |
𝟐𝝅
——合振幅在单位时间内加强或减弱的次数.

Beat phenomenon is a very important physical

phenomenon. For example, Musician use it in tuning
their instruments, such as oboe, piano …