OSCILLATIONS-1

TOPICS: Periodic motion, oscillatory motion,

Simple harmonic motion, Equation of SHM,
velocity and acceleration in SHM
PREPARED BY,
NIRUPAMA,
P.G.T. PHYSICS,
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA,
NEW TEHRI TOWN,
DEHRADUN REGION
 PERIODIC MOTION
A motion which is repeated after a fixed time interval is called
periodic motion. The time after which motion is repeated is called
time period.
Ex. Revolution of earth around the Sun (365 days), rotation of earth
about its own axis (24 hours), Oscillations of a pendulum etc.
For an insect climbing up a ramp and
falling down repeatedly, graph of its
Sun height above the ground versus time,

If a child climbs up a step and comes down

repeatedly, graph b/w its height above the
ground versus time.
 OSCILLATORY MOTION
The to and fro motion or back and forth of a body about a fixed
point is called oscillatory or vibratory motion. Ex Oscillations of a
pendulum, Oscillations of a particle attached to a spring etc.
All oscillations are periodic motions. But all periodic motions are
not oscillatory motions.
 DEFINITIONS

Complete oscillation: Motion from Extreme Extreme

one extreme end to the other
extreme end and back to same
extreme is one complete oscillation.
Mean
Time Period (T): Time taken to complete
one oscillation is called time period.

Frequency (𝝂): It is the number of oscillations per second. SI unit of

frequency is 𝒔−𝟏 𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒛 (𝑯𝒛).
𝟏
Frequency 𝝂 =
𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅 𝑻

Amplitude: It is the maximum displacement from the mean position.

 SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION (SHM)
The oscillations in which the displacement from mean position can
be expressed in term of a single harmonic function (sine or cosine
trigonometrical function) is called simple harmonic motion (SHM).

Ex. 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 or 𝐱 = 𝒃 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽

values of 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 vary from +𝟏 𝒕𝒐 − 𝟏 repeatedly, so they
oscillate about mean value of 0.

1
1
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽
𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽
π/2 π 3π/2 2π 5π/2 3π 7π/2 4π π/2 π
−𝟏 3π/2 2π 5π/2 3π 7π/2 4π
−𝟏 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 5T/4 3T/2 7T/4 2T 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 5T/4 3T/2 7T/4 2T
 Equation of SHM from Reference circle
Y 𝒕 = 𝑻/𝟒
A particle is in uniform circular
𝒕=𝒕 motion with angular velocity 𝝎 on a
N 𝝎𝒕 ( path of radius a.
𝒂
𝒚
𝒕 = 𝑻/𝟐 ) 𝝎𝒕 𝒕=𝟎
O X
𝒕=𝑻

𝒕 = 𝟑𝑻/𝟒
Equation of SHM,
Let the particle starts on the X-axis at t=0. 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕
It angular displacement in time t, 𝛉 = 𝝎𝒕 Or 𝐱 = 𝒂 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝎𝒕
Displacement of foot of perpendicular N,
from particle on Y-axis, 𝒚 = 𝒂 sin 𝝎𝒕
In one round, point N completes one
oscillation about the origin O.
INITIAL PHASE (EPOCH)
Y Let the particle starts at t=0 with
angular position 𝝓𝟎 (initial phase).
𝒕=𝒕
N
Its angular displacement in time t
𝜽(
is 𝝎𝒕. 𝜽 = 𝝎𝒕 − 𝝓𝟎
𝒂
𝒚 𝒚 = 𝒂 sin 𝜽
)𝜽 𝝎𝒕 𝒚 = 𝒂 sin(𝝎𝒕 − 𝝓𝟎 )
O X

Y
𝒕=𝟎 𝒕=𝒕
N

𝜽 𝒕=𝟎
𝜽 = 𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓𝟎 𝒚
𝒚 = 𝒂 sin 𝜽 O ) 𝝓𝟎 X
𝒚 = 𝒂 sin(𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓𝟎 )

A general equation of SHM

𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝝎𝒕 ± 𝝓𝟎 )
Or, 𝒚 = 𝒂 cos(𝝎𝒕 ± 𝝓𝟎 )
 PHASE OF OSCILLATION
Phase describes the state of vibration (position, velocity, direction etc)
of a particle. It is given by the argument of sine or cosine function of
equation of SHM.
For, 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝝎𝒕 ± 𝝓𝟎 ), Phase 𝝓 = 𝝎𝒕 ± 𝝓𝟎
VELOCITY OF PARTICLE IN SHM
Displacement from mean, 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕
𝒅𝒚 𝒅 𝒅
Velocity 𝐯 = = (𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕) = 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕 (𝝎𝒕)
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝐯 = 𝒂𝝎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕 (velocity executes SHM)
𝐯 = 𝒂𝝎 𝟏 − 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝜽 = 𝒂𝝎 𝟏 − (𝒚/𝒂) 𝟐
𝐯 = 𝝎 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐
At mean position 𝒚 = 𝟎, 𝐯 = 𝒂𝝎 (𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
At extreme position 𝒚 = 𝒂, 𝐯 = 𝟎 (𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
The particle stops at extremes for a moment.
 ACCELERATION OF PARTICLE IN SHM

Position, 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕
Velocity, 𝐯 = 𝒂𝝎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕
𝒅𝒗 𝒅 𝒅
Acc., 𝐀 = = 𝒂𝝎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕 = −𝒂𝝎 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 (𝝎𝒕)
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝟐
𝐀 = −𝒂𝝎 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 (Acc. executes SHM)
𝑨 = −𝝎𝟐 𝒚
At mean position 𝒚 = 𝟎, 𝐀 = 𝟎 (𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
At extreme position 𝒚 = 𝒂, 𝐀 = −𝝎𝟐 𝒂 (𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)

According to 𝑨 = −𝝎𝟐 𝒚
𝑨 ∝ −𝒚
Acceleration of a particle in SHM is directly proportional to
displacement from mean position and opposite in direction.
It is a necessary condition for SHM.
 𝒂 Position, 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕

y
π/2 π 3π/2 2π 5π/2 3π 7π/2 4π

0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 5T/4 3T/2 7T/4 2T

Velocity, 𝐯 = 𝒂𝝎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕
𝒂𝝎
𝒗
π/2 π 3π/2 2π 5π/2 3π 7π/2 4π
0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 5T/4 3T/2 7T/4 2T

Acc. 𝐀 = −𝒂𝝎𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕

A
π/2 π 3π/2 2π 5π/2 3π 7π/2 4π
−𝒂𝝎𝟐 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 5T/4 3T/2 7T/4 2T
Q. Can 𝒚 = 𝑨 sin 𝝎𝒕 + 𝑩 cos 𝝎𝒕 represent simple harmonic motion?

𝒚 = 𝑨 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 + 𝑩 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕
Let 𝑨 = 𝒂 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽 and 𝐁 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽,
Then, 𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 + 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕
𝒚 = 𝒂(𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕)
𝒚 = 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝝎𝒕 + 𝜽)
here the displacement is represented by a single sine term,
So it is an SHM.
𝑨𝟐 + 𝑩𝟐 = (𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽)𝟐 +(𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽) 𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐

So amplitude, 𝒂 = 𝑨𝟐 + 𝑩𝟐

𝑩 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
= = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽
𝑨 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽
𝑩
So initial phase, 𝜽 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏
𝑨
 OSCILLATIONS-2
TOPICS: Energy in Simple Harmonic motion,
numerical problems
PREPARED BY,
NIRUPAMA,
P.G.T. PHYSICS,
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA,
NEW TEHRI TOWN,
DEHRADUN REGION
 RESTORING FORCE
If a body is oscillating, the force
which tries to bring it to the mean
position is called restoring force.
Acceleration in SHM is 𝑨 = −𝝎𝟐 𝒚
So the restoring force, 𝐅 = 𝐦𝑨
𝑭 = −𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝑭 ∝ −𝒚

NECESSARY CONDITION FOR SHM: Restoring force on a

particle in SHM is directly proportional to displacement from
mean position and opposite in direction.

Relation for time period

Time Period
𝑭 = −𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝑭 ∝ −𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝑭 = −𝑲𝒚 𝒎
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅
𝒎𝝎𝟐 = 𝑲 , 𝝎𝟐 = 𝑲/𝒎 , 𝑲
𝑲 𝑲(𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓) 𝟐𝝅
𝝎= 𝝎= =
𝒎 𝒎(𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓) 𝑻
 KINETIC ENERGY IN SHM
Kinetic energy in SHM:
𝟏
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐
𝟐
𝟏
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎(𝝎 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 )𝟐
𝟐
𝟏
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 )
𝟐

𝟏
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 )
𝟐

At mean position, 𝒚 = 𝟎,
𝟏
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒂𝟐 (𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
𝟐
At extreme position 𝒚 = 𝒂,
𝐊𝐄 = 𝟎 (𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
The particle stops at extremes for a moment.
 POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM
Work done in displacing a particle from its mean position
gets stored in it as its potential energy.

Restoring force at displacement of y, 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒚 = −𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚

Work done against this force for further displacement of 𝒅𝒚,
𝒅𝑾 = 𝑭. 𝒅𝒚 = 𝑭𝒅𝒚 = 𝒌𝒚 𝒅𝒚

𝒚 𝒚
Total work done 𝒅𝑾 = 𝟎
𝒌𝒚 𝒅𝒚 = 𝒌 𝟎
𝒚 𝒅𝒚

𝒚𝟐 𝟏
𝑾=𝒌 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚𝟐
𝟐 𝟐

𝟏 At mean position, 𝒚 = 𝟎,
𝑷𝑬 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚𝟐 P𝐄 = 𝟎 (𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
𝟐
At extreme position 𝒚 = 𝒂
𝟏
P𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒂𝟐 (𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎)
𝟐
 TOTAL ENERGY IN SHM
𝟏 Total energy
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 )
𝟐 Energy 𝟏
𝟏 𝑬 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒂𝟐
𝑷𝑬 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝟐
𝟐

E=K+V

–a O a y
displacement

The plots of PE and KE are parabolic.

They are complementary. i.e. one increases at the
expense of the other.
The total Mechanical Energy in SHM remains conserved.
Q. Find the ratio of KE and PE of a simple harmonic oscillator
when the displacement is half of amplitude.

When 𝒚 = 𝒂/𝟐,
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟑𝒂
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎 𝒂 − 𝒚 = 𝒎𝝎 𝒂 − 𝒂 /𝟒 = 𝒎𝝎
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟒
𝟐
𝟏 𝟏 𝒂
𝑷𝑬 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟒
𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟑𝒂
𝐊𝐄 𝟐 𝒎𝝎 𝟒 𝟑
= 𝟐
=
𝐏𝐄 𝟏 𝒂 𝟏
𝒎𝝎𝟐
𝟐 𝟒

𝑲𝑬: 𝑷𝑬 = 𝟑: 𝟏
 Q. A body oscillates with SHM according to the equation,
𝒙 𝒕 = 𝟓 cos(𝟒𝝅𝒕 + 𝝅/𝟒)
where t is in second and x in metre. Calculate
(i) amplitude, time period, frequency, initial phase
(ii) Displacement at t =0 (iii) Initial velocity
(i) Comparing with standard equation,
𝒙 𝒕 = 𝒂 cos(𝝎𝒕 + 𝝓𝟎 )
𝟐𝝅 𝟏
Amplitude 𝒂 = 𝟓 𝒎, 𝝎 = 𝟒𝝅 = ,Time period 𝑻 = 𝒔
𝑻 𝟐
𝟏
Frequency 𝛎 = = 𝟐 𝑯𝒛, Initial phase 𝝓𝟎 = 𝝅/𝟒
𝑻
𝟓
(ii) At t=0, 𝒙 𝟎 = 𝟓 cos(𝝅/𝟒) = 𝒎
𝟐
𝒅𝒙 𝒅
(iii) 𝐯= =
𝟓 cos(𝟒𝝅𝒕 + 𝝅/𝟒)
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕
𝒅
𝒗 = −𝟓𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝟒𝝅𝒕 + 𝝅/𝟒) (𝟒𝝅𝒕 + 𝝅/𝟒)
𝒅𝒕
𝒗 = −𝟓𝑿𝟒𝝅 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝟒𝝅𝒕 + 𝝅/𝟒)
𝝅 𝟏 𝟐𝟎𝝅
At t=0, 𝒗 = −𝟐𝟎𝝅 𝒔𝒊𝒏 = −𝟐𝟎𝝅𝑿 = 𝒎 𝒔−𝟏
𝟒 𝟐 𝟐
Q. A SHM is represented by 𝒚 = 𝒂 sin 𝝎𝒕. What is
(a) The displacement at which speed is half of its max value
(b) The time at which KE is Equal to PE
𝒚 = 𝒂 𝐬𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 , max velocity 𝒗𝒎 = 𝒂𝝎
𝒗 = 𝝎 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐
𝒂𝝎 𝒂𝟐
=𝝎 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 , = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐
𝟐 𝟒
𝒂𝟐 𝟑𝒂𝟐 𝟑
𝒚 = 𝒂𝟐 −
𝟐
= , 𝒚= 𝒂
𝟒 𝟒 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
𝐊𝐄 = 𝒎𝝎 𝒂 − 𝒚 , 𝑷𝑬 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
𝒎𝝎 𝒂 − 𝒚 = 𝒎𝝎𝟐 𝒚𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐 𝟐

𝒂𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒚𝟐 , 𝟐𝒚𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 , (𝒂 sin 𝝎𝒕)𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 /𝟐

𝟏 𝝅 𝟐𝝅 𝝅
sin 𝝎𝒕 = , 𝝎𝒕 = ,𝒕=
𝟐 𝟒 𝑻 𝟒
𝑻
𝒕=
𝟖
 OSCILLATIONS-3
TOPICS: Oscillations of simple pendulum and
spring-mass systems, damping, forced
oscillations resonance with numerical
problems
PREPARED BY,
NIRUPAMA,
P.G.T. PHYSICS,
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA,
NEW TEHRI TOWN,
DEHRADUN REGION
 SIMPLE PENDULUM
Rigid support

Simple pendulum is a heavy

point mass suspended by a
Inextensible
long massless inextensible string Length of
string from a rigid support. pendulum L

heavy
Length of simple pendulum is
Bob
the distance between the rigid
support and the centre of
mass of the bob.
 Rigid support
OSCILLATIONS OF
SIMPLE PENDULUM 𝜽
At mean, tension in the string,
T
𝑻 = 𝒎𝒈 T L

At displacement 𝒚 the angular y

𝒚 𝜽
displacement 𝜽 =
𝑳
The component of weight, 𝒎𝒈
mg
𝒎𝒈 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 is directed towards Mean position
mean (restoring force).
−𝒚
𝑭 = 𝒎𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 = 𝒎𝒈
𝑳
(for small 𝜽, 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽 = 𝜽)
𝒎𝒈
𝑭=− 𝒚 = −𝑲𝒚, 𝑭 ∝ −𝒚
𝑳
(So pendulum will execute SHM)
𝒎𝒈 𝒎 𝑳
𝑲= , =
𝑳 𝑲 𝒈
𝒎 𝑳 𝑳
Time Period 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 = 𝟐𝝅 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅
𝑲 𝒈 𝒈
 Time Period of simple pendulum for small amplitude,
𝑳
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅
𝒈
Time period is independent of mass of body.
𝑻 ∝ 𝑳 With increase in L time period increases.
𝟏
𝑻∝ With increase in g time period decreases.
𝒈

Second’s Pendulum: It is the

pendulum whose time period is
2 seconds.
𝑳
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 =𝟐
𝒈
𝑳
𝝅𝟐 =𝟏 ,
𝒈
𝒈
𝑳 = 𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟔 𝒎 ≈ 𝟏 𝒎
𝝅
= 𝟗𝟗. 𝟔 𝒄𝒎
Length of Second’s pendulum is about 1 meter.
 OSCILLATIONS OF spring-mass system 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒙 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒙

Restoring force, 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒙

𝒎 𝒙
Time Period 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 Mean
𝑲
At mean position net force
is zero,
𝑭 + 𝒎𝒈 = 𝟎
−𝒌𝒍 + 𝒎𝒈 = 𝟎,
𝐦𝐠 = 𝒌𝒍 … . (𝟏)
𝑭 = −𝒌𝒍
For displacement 𝒚,
𝑭 = −𝒌(𝒍 + 𝒚) net force,
𝒍 𝒍 𝑭 = −𝒌 𝒍 + 𝒚 + 𝒎𝒈
Mean Mean
Mean 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒚 (SHM)
𝒍 𝒚
mg Time Period
𝒎 𝒍
mg 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 = 𝟐𝝅
𝑲 𝒈
 Series Combination of springs
Extension in the springs are 𝒚𝟏 and 𝒚𝟐 ,
Net displacement 𝐲 = 𝒚𝟏 + 𝒚𝟐 … . (𝟏)
Restoring force, 𝐅 = −𝒌𝟏 𝒚𝟏 = −𝒌𝟐 𝒚𝟐 𝒚𝟏
−𝑭 −𝑭 𝟏 𝟏 F
𝐲= + = −𝑭( + )
𝒌𝟏 𝒌𝟐 𝒌𝟏 𝒌𝟐
For combination, 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒚, where 𝒌 is
equivalent spring constant of the
𝒚𝟐
combination.
−𝑭 𝟏 𝟏
= −𝑭( + )
𝒌 𝒌𝟏 𝒌𝟐

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝒌𝟏 𝒌𝟐
= + ,𝒌=
𝒌 𝒌𝟏 𝒌𝟐 𝒌𝟏 +𝒌𝟐

𝒎 𝒎(𝒌𝟏 +𝒌𝟐 )
Time Period , 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 = 𝟐𝝅
𝑲 𝒌𝟏 𝒌𝟐
 Parallel Combination of springs
Extension in the springs is 𝒚,
Net Restoring force 𝐅 = 𝑭𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐 … . (𝟏)
𝑭𝟏 = −𝒌𝟏 𝒚 , 𝑭𝟐 = −𝒌𝟐 𝒚 𝑭𝟏
𝐅 = (−𝒌𝟏 𝒚) + (−𝒌𝟐 𝒚)
𝑭𝟐
𝐅 = −(𝒌𝟏 + 𝒌𝟐 )𝒚 𝒚 𝒚

For combination, 𝑭 = −𝒌𝒚, where 𝒌 is

equivalent spring constant of the
combination.
𝑭 = −𝒌𝒚 = −(𝒌𝟏 + 𝒌𝟐 )𝒚

𝒌 = 𝒌𝟏 + 𝒌𝟐

𝒎 𝒎
Time Period , 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 = 𝟐𝝅
𝑲 𝒌𝟏 +𝒌𝟐
 Damped Oscillations
Amplitude of oscillations of a body decrease with time due to
frictional forces applied by viscous medium (air, liquid etc). Such
oscillations are called damped oscillations.

displacement
t

Natural frequency
When a body is allowed to oscillate on its
own without application of external forces,
its frequency is called the natural frequency
of the body.
 Forced Oscillations
When an external periodic force is
applied on a body in oscillation,
then after some time it oscillates
with the frequency of the force.
Such oscillations are called forced
or driven oscillations and the force
is called driver force.
Ex. When a swing is given periodic
push, it swings with frequency of
the push.
Resonance
When frequency of the driver force is equal to the natural
frequency of the driven body, the amplitude of oscillations
become very large. This state is called Resonance.
 When an aircraft passes near a building, its window panes may
shatter if natural frequency of window panes is equal to the
frequency of sound waves emitted by the aircraft.

A newly built bridge in the USA collapsed when the

frequency of wind became equal the natural frequency of
the bridge because of resonance.
Marching soldiers break steps while crossing a
bridge to avoid resonance.
During earthquake, when the frequency of the earthquake
becomes equal to the natural frequency of some buildings,
they fall while other buildings remain unaffected.
Q. Acceleration due to gravity on the moon is one sixth of its
value on the earth. What will be the time period of second’s
pendulum when it is taken to the moon?
𝑳
For second’s pendulum, 𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 =𝟐
𝒈
𝑳
On the moon, time period 𝑻′ = 𝟐𝝅
𝒈/𝟔

′
𝟔𝑳 𝑳
𝑻 = 𝟐𝝅 = 𝟔𝑿𝟐𝝅 =𝟐 𝟔 𝒔
𝒈 𝒈
On the moon, time period is 4.9 seconds.
Q. A spring of force constant 1200 N/m is mounted on a
frictionless horizontal table. A mass of 3 kg is attached to the free
end of the spring, pulled to a distance of 2 cm and released.
(i) Find frequency of oscillations.
(ii) Maximum acceleration,
(iii) Maximum speed
𝑲 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎
(i) Angular frequency 𝛚 = 𝒎
=
𝟑
= 𝟐𝟎 𝒓𝒂𝒅/𝒔
Angular frequency 𝛚 = 𝟐𝝅𝝂
𝝎 𝟐𝟎
𝝂= = = 𝟑. 𝟐 𝑯𝒛
𝟐𝝅 𝟔. 𝟐𝟖
(ii) Max. Acceleration = 𝒂𝝎𝟐 = 𝟐𝑿𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝑿𝟐𝟎𝑿𝟐𝟎
Acceleration = 𝟖 𝒎 𝒔−𝟐

(iii) Maximum velocity = 𝒂𝝎 = 𝟐𝑿𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝑿𝟐𝟎

Acceleration = 𝟎. 𝟒 𝒎 𝒔−𝟏