Waves & Oscillations Assignment Question: Module-1

Module 1: Waves & Oscillations

Simple Harmonic Oscillation

1. (a) Define simple harmonic motion and write down the characteristics of SHM.
Set up the differential equation of SHM and solve the equation.
(b) Show that the average energy of a particle executing simple harmonic oscillation is
constant.
Derive the differential equation for the simple harmonic motion from the energy conservation
principle.
Write down the differential equation of a series L-C circuit and hence establish the expression
for time period.
(c) (1) A particle executing SHM has displacements x1 and x2 when its velocities are v1 and
v2 respectively. Calculate the amplitude and time period.
(2) The maximum velocity and acceleration of a particle executing SHM is ‘b’ and ‘a’
respectively. Show that the amplitude and the period of oscillations are given by
b2 (2b)
and respectively.
a a

(3) The displacement of a simple harmonic oscillator is given by, x  a sin(t   ). If the
oscillations started at time t=0 from a position x0 with velocity x 0  v0 , show that,
1/ 2
x0  v2 
tan   and a   x02  0  .
v0   2 


(4) The potential energy of a particle oscillating on x-axis is given by U=20+(x-2)2, examine
whether the motion of the particle is harmonic or not?
(5) Examine the following functions whether periodic, non-periodic, harmonic or an-
harmonic and hence find the period for sin(wt)+cos(wt), sin(wt)+cos(2wt)+sin(4wt), e-wt and
log(wt).

(6) The equation of motion of a particle in the x-direction is x  4 sin 2 (t  ) cm. Show
6
that the particle executes SHM, and finds the mean position, the frequency, and the amplitude
of the oscillation. Ans: 2 cm, ω/π, 2cm.
(d) (1) Write down the differential equation of a series L-C circuit and hence establish the
expression for time period.

(2) A cubical block of side L cm and density ‘d’ is floating in a liquid of density ρ (ρ >d).
The block is slightly depressed and released. Show that it will execute simple harmonic
motion. Determine the frequency and time period of oscillation. Ans. n  1 g
2 Ld
Or
A cylinder of mass M and cross sectional area A floats vertically in a liquid of density ρ. If it
is depressed slightly and then released, find the frequency of oscillations.
Ans. 1 Ag
2 M

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Waves & Oscillations Assignment Question: Module-1

A weighted glass tube is floating in a liquid with h cm of its length immersed. It is pushed
down a certain distance and then released. Calculate the time period of vibration.

(3) A particle of mass m undergoes simple harmonic motion of amplitude A and frequency
‘n’. The particle possesses velocities v1 and v2 while its displacements are y1 and y2
respectively. Prove that n  1 v12  v 22 v12 r12  v 22 r22
and A 
2 y12  y 22 v12  v 22

(e) Calculate the time period of the liquid column of length l in U-tube, if it is depressed in
one arm by x, d is the density of liquid and A is the cross-sectional area of each arm of U-
tube.
(f) (1) A mass ‘m’ is suspended at the end of a mass-less wire of length ‘l’ and cross section
‘A’. If Y is the Young’s modulus of elasticity of the material of the wire, obtain the frequency
of oscillation for the simple harmonic motion along the vertical line.
Ans. n  1 YA
2 ml
(2) A simple pendulum of length ‘l’ and having a bob of mass ‘M’ is suspended in a air. The
car is moving with velocity ‘v’ on a circular track of radius ‘R’. If the pendulum makes small
oscillations in a redial direction about its equilibrium position, What will be its time period?
Ans. T  2 l
(g  v 4 / R 2 )
2

(g) (1) A body of mass ‘m’ falls from a height ‘h’ on to the pan of a spring balance. The
mass of the pan and the spring are negligible, the stiffness constant of the latter being ‘k’.
Having struck to the pan the body starts performing harmonic oscillations in vertical
2
direction. Find the amplitude and energy of oscillations. Ans. mg 1  2kh ; mgh  (mg)
k mg k
(2) Two masses m1 and m2 are suspended together by a massless spring of spring constant k.
When the masses are in equilibrium m1 is removed without disturbing the system. Find the
k (m1 g )
angular frequency and amplitude of oscillations of m2. Ans. ;
m2 k
(h) A mass ‘M’ is suspended from a light rod. An addition of mass ‘m’ displaces the spring
further by a distance ‘x’. Show that the time period of the spring and combined mass system
will be 2 x( M  m) .
mg
(i) A uniform cylinder of length L and mass M having cross sectional area A is suspended
with its vertical length from a fixed point by a mass-less spring, such that it is half submerged
in a liquid of density ρ at equilibrium position. When the cylinder is given a small downward
push and released, it starts oscillation with small amplitude. Show that the frequency of
k  Ag
oscillation is given by n  1
2 M
(j) An ideal gas is enclosed in a vertical cylindrical container and supports a freely moving
piston of mass M. The piston and the cylinder have equal cross-sectional area A.
Atmospheric pressure is P0 and V0 is the volume of the gas under equilibrium condition. The
piston is now displaced slightly from the equilibrium position. Assuming the system to be
completely isolated from its surroundings, show that the frequency of SHM is given by
1 A( AP0  Mg )
n
2 MV0

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Waves & Oscillations Assignment Question: Module-1

(k) Derive the expression for the time period of oscillation of a simple pendulum of length L
suspended from the roof of a vehicle which moves without friction down an inclined plane of
inclination α. Ans. T  2 l
( g cos  )
(l) The potential energy of a particle with mass 10gm is given by, V(x) = 32x2+0.5, where x
is in meter and V in joule. Write down the equation of motion and solve it. What is the
frequency of oscillation?
2. (a) Derive the expression for the superposition of 2-simple harmonic oscillations having
same amplitude ‘a’ and the same angular frequency ‘ω’, but equal successive phase
advancement ‘δ’. Hence extend the discussion do derive the expression for resultant
amplitude and phase for the superposition of n-simple harmonic oscillations having same
amplitude ‘a’ and the same angular frequency ‘ω’, but equal successive phase advancement
‘δ’.
3.(a) What are Lissajous Figures ? How it can be experimentally demonstrated. Two simple
harmonic motions act simultaneously on a particle at right angles to each other. Show that the
path of the particle will be ellipse when the two motions have the same time period, but
different amplitudes and initial phases. What happens when the phase difference between the
motions is (i) zero, (ii) π, and (iii) π/4.
(b) Discuss the formation of Lissajous figures by the superposition of two simple harmonic
motions when (i) the periods are the same but the amplitudes and phases are different; (ii) the
periods are in the ratio 1:2, and the amplitudes and phases are different.
(c) A particle is simultaneously under two simple harmonic motions at right angles to each
other. The two motions are represented by x  a sin t and y  b sin(t   ). (i) Show that
2 2
the resultant motion is an ellipse given by x  y  2 xy cos   sin 2  . (ii) What is the locus
2 2 ab
a b
of the particle when    and a  b .
(d) A particle in the xy-plane has the displacement x  cos t along x-axis and y  cos t
along y-axis. Show that the trajectory is repeated only if α is a rational number.
(e) Two vibrations, at right angles to each other, are described by the equations

x  3 cos 4t and y  3 cos(8t  ), where x and y are expressed in centimeters and t in
3
seconds. Construct the Lissajous figure of the combined motion.
Ans: 16x2+24x2y-144x+36y2+108y+81=0

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Waves & Oscillations Assignment Question: Module-1

Damped Harmonic Oscillations

1. (a) What do you mean by damped harmonic oscillation? Establish the differential
equation for the damped harmonic oscillator and explain each term.
(b) Solve the differential equation for the damped harmonic oscillator and explain the term
heavy damping, critically damping and oscillatory damping. Explain the results with
graphical representation.
(c) Derive the expression for the mechanical energy dissipation in case of damped harmonic
oscillator.
(d) Write short notes on logarithmic decrement, relaxation time and quality factor.
2. (a) The displacement from equilibrium, x(t), of the pen of a chart recorder can be modeled as a
damped harmonic oscillator satisfying homogeneous differential equation
x(t )  x (t )  02 x(t )  0 . Find the time evolution of the displacement if the pen is under
damped and subject to the initial conditions x(t=0) = 0 and x (t  0)  v0 .

3. What do you mean by relaxation time in damped vibration? Establish the relationship
between relaxation time and damping co-efficient. How one can estimate the value of
damping co-efficient in terms of log decrement method.
4. In damped harmonic oscillation, calculate the time in which the energy of the system falls
to e-1 times of its initial value. [WBUT-2007]
5. Write down the differential equation of a series LCR circuit driven by a sinusoidal voltage.
Identify the natural frequency of this circuit. Find out the condition that this circuit will show
an oscillatory decay and find out the relaxation time. [WBUT-2007]
6. The amplitude of an oscillator of 200 cps frequency falls to (1/10th) of its initial value after
2000 cycles. Calculate its relaxation time, quality factor and time in which its energy falls to
1/10th of its initial value. [WBUT 2008]
7. The motion of an oscillatory system of 100g mass, subjected to a restoring force of 100
dyne/cm, is critically damped. When it remains at rest, its motion is started by an initial
velocity of 50cm/s. Find the maximum displacement of the oscillator.
8. A root mean square voltage of 100V is applied to a series resonant circuit having R=10
ohm, L=10mH and C=1μF. Calculate the (i) natural frequency (ii) the current in resistance
(iii) the Q-value of the circuit at resonance and the bandwidth of the circuit.

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Waves & Oscillations Assignment Question: Module-1

Forced Harmonic Oscillations

1. (a) What do you mean by forced vibration? Write the differential equation of a forced
harmonic oscillator and explain each term.
(b) Explain the term amplitude resonance.
(c) What do you mean by mechanical Impedance? – explain.
2. What is the electromechanical analogy between a mechanical oscillator and an electrical
circuit?
Or
What is the electrical equivalence with a mechanical oscillator?
Or
Write down the differential equation of a series L-C-R circuit driven by a sinusoidal voltage.
Compare the equivalent terms with mechanical vibrator. Identify the relaxation time of the
circuit.

3. The differential equation of a forced harmonic oscillator is given by,

 k
mx(t )  x (t )  kx(t )  F0 cos t , where 2b  , and 0  . Show that the average
m m
power supplied by the driving force is given by
mbf 0 2
Ps 
   
 0 2 (  0 ) 2  4b 2 
 0  
Define quality factor (Q) and sharpness of resonance (Sr) – explain graphically from the
above result.

4. How energy conservation is valid in forced harmonic oscillation.

Or
Show that the energy supplied by the driving force is equal to the energy dissipated by the
damping force in forced harmonic oscillation.

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