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Chapter 10: Simple harmonic motion and waves

Oscillation

The to and fro, back and forth, left and right or up and down motion of a body about a fixed
point is called is called oscillation.
e.g. specific examples of oscillation is the motion of a mass attached to the end of a
spring, motion of swing and motion of simple pendulum.

Periodic motion

The motion that repeats itself in equal interval of time is called periodic motion. The
motion is often called harmonic motion.

Examples: motions of hands of clock, earth around the sun and moon around the earth shows
periodic motion

Simple hormonic motion

The type of vibratory motion in which the restoring force is directly proportion to the
displacement but both have opposite directions is called Simple harmonic motion.

f res α -x

The type of vibratory motion in which acceleration is directly proportion to the displacement but
both have opposite directions is called Simple harmonic motion. A body which performs simple
harmonic motion is called simple harmonic oscillator (SHO).

If “a” is the acceleration of the body and “x” represents the displacement of the body
from its mean position.
a α -x

The minus sign is due to the fact that both acceleration and displacement have opposite
directions.

Examples of SHM:

 Motion of a body attached to the end of an elastic spring.

 Motion of the bob of a simple pendulum if it is given small displacement.
 Motion of the wire of a guitar or violin.
 Motion of a swing.
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Characteristics of SHM:

1. In SHM acceleration is always directly proportion to displacement.

2. Acceleration and displacement are always in opposite direction.
3. The velocity of the body is maximum at mean position and minimum at extreme position.
4. K.E of the body executing SHM is maximum at mean position and minimum at extreme
position.
5. Potential energy is minimum at mean position and maximum extreme position.
6. The total energy of the body performing simple harmonic motion remains constant.
7. Acceleration is maximum at extreme position and minimum at mean position.
8. At mean position the total energy is equal to kinetic energy and at extreme position the
total energy is equal to potential energy.
9. The motion is always in a straight line.
10. The body oscillates about the mean position.

Motion of mass attached to a spring:

Consider a body of mass “m” is connected to one end of a spring. And the other end is
connected to a support lying on a frictionless table. Now a force “F” is applied displace the
body from point “O” to A. Due to restoring force the mass will start vibration between point
A and A’. The restoring force by Hook’s law is given as

F=-K x ………………… (I)

Where “K” is constant of proportionality and is

called spring constant. The negative sign is due to the
opposite direction of restoring force and
displacement. Nowas the restoring force produce
acceleration in the mass so according to Newton’s
2nd law of motion

F=ma ....…………….. (II)

Comparing equation (I) and (II)

Ma = -K x

 a = -K x / m
 a = - (K/m) x
 a = - (constant) x
 a α -x

From this relation it has proved that mass attached to a spring execute Simple harmonic
motion.
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Time period and Frequency Of Mass Attached to a spring

sSince accelerationof SHM is

This equation represent time period of mass attached to a spring. Where” m” is the
mass in kg and “k” is the spring constant in N/m of mass spring system.
Since frequency is the reciprocal of time period sofrequency is given as

Important terminology:

1. Vibration: one complete round trip of a vibrating body is called Vibration. i.e. motion of
simple pendulum from O to A, A to A’ and then from A’ to O.

2. Time period: The time taken by a vibrating to complete one vibration is called time
period. It is denoted by “T” and its SI unit is second. The time period of a simple
pendulum depends upon on its length and time period of mass attached to a spring
depends on mass of the body attached.
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3. Frequency: The number of vibrations completed by a vibrating body in one second is

called Frequency. It is denoted by “f” and its SI unit is hertz (Hz).

Number of vibrations
f=
total time

1
f ¿
T

4. Displacement: The distance of a vibrating body from its mean position at any point is
called Displacement. It is denoted by “X”.

5. Amplitude: The maximum displacement of a vibrating body from its mean position is
called Amplitude. OR the distance between extreme position and mean position is called
Amplitude. It is denoted by “ X O ”

Simple pendulum:

An arrangement in which a mass is suspended by a

weightless and inextensible string and the other end of the
string is attached to a fixed support is called Simple
pendulum.

Forces on Simple Pendulum:

When we apply some external force on the bob and

displace it from its mean position to extreme position. Then
the pendulum comes to its mean position due to gravity. And
back to the opposite extreme position. So the bob start
vibration between two extreme positions about a mean
position. Here two forces acting on the body

1. Weight force acting in downward direction

2. Tension force acting along the string

The weight can be resolved into its two components.

a. MgcosѲ acts along the string opposite to tension in the string. This component balances
the tension in the string.
b. MgsinѲ is directed towards the mean position. This component causes motion in the
pendulum. So the motion of simple pendulum is due to mgsinѲ component of the weight.
So
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F = -mg sinѲ _______ (1)

As this for produce acceleration in the body so according to Newton’s second law of motion

F=ma _____________ (2)

From equation (1) and (2)

Ma =-mg sinѲ

 a = -g sin Ѳ
x
 a = -g
l
g
 a=-( )x
l
 a = -(constant) x
 a α -x

From this relation it has proved that motion of simple pendulum execute Simple harmonic
motion.

Time period and Frequency Of Simple Pendulum

The acceleration and displacement of simple pendulum are related by its time period
“T” by the following equation:
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Above equation shows that the time period “T” of simple pendulum depends directly on
the length “ℓ” of the pendulum and inversely on gravitational acceleration”. The
period of the pendulum does not depend on the mass of the pendulum bob. The period
of the pendulum does not depend on its amplitude.
As frequency is the reciprocal of time period so:

Damping
When the energy of a vibrating system is gradually dissipated by friction and other
resistances, the vibrations  are said to be damped.
The  vibrations gradually reduce or change in
frequency or intensity or cease and the system rests in
its equilibrium position.
If we consider an ideal case in which air
resistance and gravitational force is zero then there
will be no decrease in the amplitude and so no
damping will be there but in real situation gravity
force and air resistance exist so damping occur.
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Wave Motion: The disturbance produced in a medium due to some external force is called wave.
Transmission of energy in a medium due to oscillatory motion of the particles of the medium is
called Wave Motion.

When one end of the string is given a jerk and the

other end is fixed to a support. Then up and down
motion is produced in the string. The portion of the
wave below the mean position with maximum
displacement is called trough and the portion of waves
above the mean position with maximum displacement is
called crest.

Waves as means of energy transfer:

Waves transfer energy from one point to another point.

It is explained in the following example.

Example: When a cork is placed on the surface of water and waves are produced in the water
by throwing a stone to it. Then we observe that the cork also move up and down. So energy is
transferred from water to cork.

Types of waves:

1. Electromagnetic waves:
Those waves which do not require a material medium for their propagation is are called
electromagnetic waves.
For example: sound waves, light waves and radio waves are the example of
electromagnetic waves.
2. Mechanical Waves:
Those waves which require a material medium for their propagation are called
Mechanical waves.
For example: Water waves, string waves and spring waves are the example of
Mechanical waves.
Mechanical waves are further classified to two types i.e. Longitudinal waves and transverse
waves. I.e. Longitudinal waves and transverse waves.
a. Longitudinal Waves: Those waves in which particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the
direction of propagation of
waves are called longitudinal
waves.

Examples: Sound waves and spring

waves. These waves consist of
compression and rarefaction.
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i) Compression: The part of longitudinal waves in which the particles of the medium
are very crowded is called compression.
ii) Rarefaction: The part of longitudinal waves in which the particles of the medium
are less crowded is called Rarefaction.

b. Transverse waves: Those waves in which particles of the medium vibrate perpendicular to
the direction of propagation of waves are called longitudinal waves.

Examples: Light waves And oscillating

string. These waves consist of crest and
trough.

i) Crest: The part of transverse

waves above the mean position
is called crest.
ii) Trough: The part of transverse
waves below the mean position is called trough.

Terminology

1. Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs is called

Wavelength. It is denoted by lambda (λ).
2. Amplitude: the maximum displacement on either side of a wave from its mean position is
called amplitude. It is denoted by “Xo”
3. Velocity: distance travel by a wave in unit time is called Velocity.
distance travel
V=
time taken

S
V=
t

4. Relation between frequency, wavelength and velocity:

S
We know that V=
t

If distance travel by the wave is one wavelength then time is one time period

i.e. s= λ then t=T

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λ
So V=
T

1
 V= ( ) λ
T
 V=f λ

Ripple tank:

Ripple tank is an apparatus which is used to

study the features or characteristics of waves.

A ripple tank consists of a rectangular tray

containing water. It is provided with a
transparent glass sheet at the bottom. A screen is
placed well below the tray to observe the
characteristics of waves generated in water. A
lamp is placed above the tray.

Properties of waves:

1. Reflection of waves: The bouncing back of waves from

a surface when strike it is called Reflection of waves.
This process can be done in the ripple tank placing
the upright surface in water as shown in the figure.

2. Refraction of waves: the changing in direction and

speed of waves when enter from one medium to
another medium is called Refraction of waves.
This can be done in ripple tank by placing a plastic
sheet in the portion of the bottom of the tray.

3. Diffraction of waves: the spreading out of waves after

passing through a small opening is called Diffraction
of waves.
This process can be done in a ripple tank by
placing two obstacles separated by a small distance.
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Written By: Engr Miraj Ahmad

Youtube: Online classes & ETEA Tricks

Mob: 03329177174