OSCILLATIONS

Periodic and non- periodic motion

 Any motion which repeats itself in a fixed time interval is known as

periodic motion.
Examples : Hands in pendulum clock, swing of a cradle, the revolution of
the Earth around the Sun, waxing and waning of Moon, etc.
 Any motion which does not repeat itself after a regular interval of time is
known as non-periodic motion.
Example : Occurance of Earth quake, eruption of volcano, etc.

Oscillatory motion

When an object or a particle moves back and forth repeatedly for some duration
of time its motion is said to be oscillatory (or vibratory).

Examples; our heart beat, pendulum clock

 all oscillatory motion are periodic whereas all periodic motions need not
be oscillation in nature.
SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION (SHM)
Simple harmonic motion is a special type of oscillatory motion in which the
acceleration or force on the particle is directly proportional to its displacement
from a fixed point and is always directed towards that fixed point. In one
dimensional case, let x be the displacement of the particle and ax be the
acceleration of the particle, then
F∝ 𝑥
F=-k𝑥
ma=-k𝑥 (F=ma)
a= 𝑥

Harmonic and Non-harmonic Oscillation.

Harmonic oscillation is that oscillation which can be expressed in terms of
single harmonic function (i.e. sine or cosine function).
Example : y = a sinωt or
y = a cos ωt.
Non-harmonic oscillation is that oscillation which can not be expressed in
terms of single harmonic function.
Example : y = a sin ωt + b sin 2 ωt.

(i) Time period

The time period is defined as the time taken by a particle to complete one
oscillation. It is usually denoted by T. For one complete revolution, the time taken
is t = T, therefore

Then, the displacement of a particle executing simple harmonic motion can be

written either as sine function or cosine function.

where T represents the time period. Suppose the time t is replaced by t + T, then
the function

Thus, the function repeats after one time period.

This y(t) is an example of periodic function.

Frequency and angular frequency

The number of oscillations produced by the particle per second is called

frequency. It is denoted by f. SI unit for frequency is s−1 or hertz

1
𝑓=
𝑇
The number of cycles (or revolutions) per second is called angular frequency.
SI unit for angular frequency is rad/s
ω= 2𝜋𝑓

Phase

The phase of a vibrating particle at any instant completely specifies the state of
the particle.
where ωt + φ0 = φ is called the phase of the vibrating particle. At time t = 0s
(initial time), the phase φ = φ0 is called epoch (initial phase)
Phase difference : If two particles performs S.H.M and their
equation are y1 = a sin (ωt + φ1) and y2 = a sin (ωt + φ2) then phase
difference Δφ = (ωt + φ2) – (ωt + φ1) = φ2 – φ1

v
Out of Phase by 180o
Fourier Theorem
Differential Equation of SHM

Comparative Study of Displacement, Velocity and Acceleration.

Displacement y = a sin ωt
Velocity v = aω cos ωt

SHM and Uniform Circular Motion:

Simple harmonic motion can be defined as the projection of uniform circular
motion on any diameter of circle of reference.
Displacement:
Energy in S.H.M.
A particle executing S.H.M. possesses two types of energy : Potential energy
and Kinetic energy
Horizontal oscillations of a spring-mass system

Consider a system containing a block of mass m attached to a massless spring

with stiffness constant or force constant or spring constant k placed on a smooth
horizontal surface (frictionless surface) as shown. Let x0 be the equilibrium
position or mean position of mass m when it is left undisturbed. Suppose the
mass is displaced through a small displacement x towards right from its
equilibrium position and then released, it will oscillate back and forth about its
mean position x0. Let F be the restoring force (due to stretching of the spring)
which is proportional to the amount of displacement of block.
From Newton’s second law, we can write the equation for the particle executing
simple harmonic motion

Oscillations of Simple Pendulum

When bob of the simple pendulum is displaced from its equilibrium

position O and is then released it begins to oscillate. Suppose it is at P at
any instant of time during oscillations and θ be the angle subtended by
the string with the vertical.

 mg is the force acting on the bob at point P in vertically downward

direction.
  Its component mgcosθ is balanced by the tension in the string and its
tangential component mgsinθ directs in the direction opposite to
increasing θ .
 Thus restoring force is given by
F=-mgsinθ
 If the angle θ is small such that sinθ very nearly equals θ then above
equation 1becomes
F=-mgθ
since x=lθ then,
F=-(mgx)/l
where x is the displacement OP along the arc. Thus,
F=-(mg/l)x
 the constant (mg/l) is the force constant k.
 Time period of a simple pendulum for small amplitudes is

 Corresponding frequency relations are

and angular frequency

ω=√(g/l) (23)
 Notice that the period of oscillations is independent of the mass m of the
pendulum and for small oscillations period of pendulum for given value
of g is entirely determined by its length.

Various Formulae of S.H.M.

Free, Damped, Forced and Maintained Oscillation.
(1) Free oscillation
(i) The oscillation of a particle with fundamental frequency under the
influence of restoring force are defined as free oscillations
(ii) The amplitude, frequency and energy of oscillation remains constant
(iii) Frequency of free oscillation is called natural frequency.
(2) Damped oscillation
(i) The oscillation of a body whose amplitude goes on decreasing with
time are defined as damped oscillation.
(ii) Amplitude of oscillation decreases exponentially due to damping
forces like frictional force, viscous force, hystersis etc.
(3) Forced oscillation
(i) The oscillation in which a body oscillates under the influence of an
external periodic force are known as forced oscillation.
(ii) Resonance: When the frequency of external force is equal to the
natural frequency of the oscillator. Then this state is known as
the state of resonance. And this frequency is known as resonant
frequency.
(4) Maintained oscillation : The oscillation in which the loss of oscillator
is compensated by the supplying energy from an external source are
known as maintained oscillation.