Chapter 7 : Oscillations
Dr Rana Nicolas
Phys 301
• Periodic Motion
• Simple Harmonic Motion
• Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
• SHM and Uniform Circular Motion
• The simple Pendulum
• Damped and Driven Oscillations
Phys 301
Periodic motion
Periodic motion follows repeatedly the same trajectory
The frequency of an oscillation is the number of times
per second that it completes a full oscillation (cycle)
Unit of hertz: 1 Hz = 1 oscillation per second
The time in seconds for one full cycle is the period
Any motion that repeats regularly is called periodic
(SI units Hertz (Hz = 1/s = s-1)
Phys 301
Periodic motion
• An oscillation is any motion that proceeds back and forth over
the same path.
• Simple harmonic motion (SHM) is periodic motion that
is a sinusoidal function of time.
Phys 301
Hooke’s Law Applied to a Spring – Mass System
• When x is positive (to the right), F is negative (to the
left). As the object moves toward the equilibrium
position, F and a decrease, but the speed v increases.
• When x = 0 (at equilibrium), F is 0, a = 0; but v is a
maximum. The force and acceleration start to increase
in the opposite direction and speed decreases
• When x is negative (to the left), F is positive (to the
right); The motion momentarily comes to a stop at x =
- A. It then accelerates back toward the equilibrium
position
Phys 301
Simple harmonic motion
•A spring exerts a restoring force that
is proportional to the displacement
from equilibrium: Fs = -kx (Hooke’s
law).
•A mass on a spring will have a
displacement as a function of time
The maximum distance on either side
of equilibrium is the amplitude A.
•The direction of the restoring force is
such that the object is being either
pushed or pulled toward the
equilibrium position
Phys 301
Amplitude and angular frequency in SHM
The value written A is how far the particle moves in either direction: the amplitude
In the absence of friction, an object in simple harmonic motion will oscillate between
the positions x = ±A The period, T, is the time that it takes for the object to complete
one complete cycle of motion from x = -A back to x =Ax = A
The argument of the cosine is the phase
The angular frequency is written ω
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Period of the SHM
• Period of a spring depends on k and m.
A stiffer spring has a greater k, which increases the force and thus the
acceleration. More mass means more inertia thus greater period:
• Note that T does not depend on A. greater amplitudes result in
greater spring forces, thus larger acceleration and quicker motion
(SI units rad/s but radian is dimensionless so unit: s-1 )
Phys 301
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
• A block sliding on a frictionless system
collides with a light spring
• The block attaches to the spring
• The system oscillates in Simple Harmonic
Motion
The total mechanical energy depends only on the
spring constant k and oscillation amplitude A.
Phys 301
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
•We saw in chapter 5, that E = K + U.
•For a spring, E = ½(mv2 + kx2)
•At the end points, x = +/- A, and v = 0. Thus E = ½ kA2.
Thus the spring’s total mechanical energy depends only on k and A!
At x = 0,
At x = 0,
Phys 301
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
Phys 301
Another look at Energy
Absent frictional forces, the total mechanical energy
of a simple harmonic oscillator is constant. The
kinetic and potential energy each vary sinusoidally
with time, but their sum is constant
Phys 301
Position, Velocity and Acceleration
Fnet,x = max;
ax= -(k/m)x;
ax = -(k/m) A cos(ωt)
Phys 301
Motion Equations
Remember, the uniformly accelerated motion equations cannot be used
x = A cos (2πƒt) = A cos wt
v = -2 π ƒA sin (2πƒt) = -A w sin wt
a = -4 π 2ƒ2A cos (2 π ƒt) = -Aw2 cos wt
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SHM and Uniform Circular Motion
What we’ve shown here is
that the projection of
uniform circular motion onto
a diameter of the circle gives
simple harmonic motion.
Now you can see why w is
called angular frequency
Phys 301
The Simple Pendulum
The simple pendulum is another Neglecting air drag and friction at the
example of simple harmonic motion. pendulum’s pivot, these oscillations are
The force is the component of the periodic.
weight tangent to the path of motion:
The Small-Angle Approximation (angles
less than 15°) sinϴ = ϴ
Compare this with the harmonic
oscillator's acceleration
Phys 301
Amplitude and angular frequency in SHM
For angles < π/12 (15°)
sin θ = θ is a good
approximation
Phys 301
Simple Pendulum Compared to a Spring-Mass System
Phys 301
Period of Simple Pendulum
This shows that the period is independent of the amplitude
The period depends on the length of the pendulum and the
acceleration of gravity at the location of the pendulum
Phys 301
Damped and Driven Oscillations
All oscillating systems are subject to
friction, drag, or other energy losses,
which damp the oscillations.
Only ideal systems oscillate
indefinitely. In real systems,
friction and/or drag forces retard
the motion. These non-
conservative forces reduce the
total energy of the system and the
oscillation is said to be damped.
If oscillations are taking place in a fluid where:
Fdrag = -b v (chap 4: drag force proportional to v or v2).
Damped motion varies depending on the strength of the damping force
Phys 301
Damped and Driven Oscillations
Phys 301
Driven Oscillations
Resonance:
Every oscillator has a ‘natural frequency’; you
can add energy to a harmonic oscillator
periodically at a certain frequency (driving
frequency). If that driving frequency is equal as
the natural frequency of the harmonic oscillator,
you can drive the amplitude of the oscillations
to much larger values, leading to catastrophic
results.
Phys 301
Summary
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