PHYSICS 310: FALL 2011

Instructor: Thushari Jayasekera1 Chapter 3: Oscilliations

Let’s do some problems
Problem 1
A mass m hangs in equilibrium by a spring which exterts a force F = −k(x − l)
where x is the length of the spring and l is its length when relaxed.
At time t = 0, the point of support to which the upper end of the spring is
attached begins to oscillate sinusodialy up and down with amplitude A, and angular
frequency ω as shown. Set up and solve the equations of motion for x(t).
—————————
Solution
—————————
The problem is sketched in the figure:

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thushari@siu.edu

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 Take the upper end of the spring P as the origin of the x coordinate of the mass
m. At time t=0, the Pivot point P starts to oscillate sinusodially. Let’s take that
the point P oscilliates as ASin(ωt). Then let’s write the equation of motion.

d2
m [x + ASinωt] = mg − k(x − l)
dx2
mẍ − mω 2 ASinωt = mg − k(x − l)
h mg i
= −k x − l −
k
mẍ − mω 2 ASinωt = −ky

where we define

mg
y = x−l−
k
ẏ = ẋ
ÿ = ẍ

mÿ = mω 2 ASinωt = −ky

k
ÿ + y = ω 2 ASinωt (1)
m
This is exactly like the problem we have solved for the forced Harmonic Oscillator
(with no damping parameter b. )
Let’s try a solution of the form: y = BSinωt
Remember, we could have tried a solution of the form: y = BSin(ωt − δ). How
ever, when we solved the forced Hamonic oscillator, we noted that δ = 0 when there
is no damping parameter b.

y = BSinωt
ẏ = ωBCosωt
ÿ = −ω 2 BSinωt

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 Now we substitute these equations in 1:

ω 2 BSinωt + ω02 BSinωt = ω 2 ASinωt

−ω 2 B + ω02 B = mω 2 A
ω2A
B= 2
ω0 − ω 2

This is the particular equation.

Now we write the general solution for this motion as:

ω2A
x = C Cos ω0 t + D Sin ω0 t + 2 Sinωt
ω0 − ω 2

Now in order to determine the unknown constants, we will use the initial con-
ditions:
At time t = 0 the point P is not osciliating.

mg = k(x − l)
mg
x = +l
k

i.e. at t = 0, y = x − l − mg
k
=0
This gives C = 0;
Now by using ẋ = 0 at t = 0, we get:

ω3A
D=−
ω0 (ω02 − ω 2 )
Now the total solution to the problem can be written as:

ω2A
 
ω mg
x(t) = 2 2
Sinωt − Sinω0 t + +l
ω0 − ω ω0 k

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 Problem 2
A particle of mass mass M is at rest at the end of a spring (with force constant
k) hanging from a fixed support. At t = 0 a constant downward force F is applied
to the mass M , which acts for a time t0 . Show that after the force is removed, the
displacement of the mass from its equilibrium position is:

F
x − x0 = [Cosω0 (t − t0 ) − Cosω0 t] (2)
k
—————————
Solution
—————————
There is a constant force applied in the time interval : 0 < t < t0 . The equation
of motion for that motion can be written as:

mẍ = −k(x − x0 ) + F
mẍ = −kx + (F + kx0 )

for t > t0 , there is no force:

mẍ = −kx + kx0

Let’s define ζ = x − x0
Now

mζ̈ = −kζ for 0 ≤ t ≤ t0

mζ̈ = −kζ for t ≥ t0

The complimentary solution for both the problems will take the same form;

ζ(t) = Aeiωt + Be−iωt

For 0 ≤ t ≤ t0 we also need to take the particular solution:
So the complete solution takes the form

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 F
ζt≤t0 = + Aeiωt + Be−iωt
K
ζt>t0 = Ceiωt + De−iωt

At t = 0 ζ = 0 and ζ̇ = 0

F
0 = +A+B
k
0 = iω(A − B) ↔ A = B

This gives:
F
A=B=−
2k
Now:

F
ζt≤t0 = + Aeıωt + Ae−iωt
k
F
= (1 − Cosωt)
k
Now let’s consider the solution t > t0

ζt>t0 = Ceiωt + De−iωt

at t = t0 :
ζt>t0 |t=t0 = ζt≤t0 |t=t0

F
(1 − Cos ωt0 ) = Ceıωt0 + De−iωt0 (3)
k
By combining the velocities at t = t0
F
ωSin ωt0 = iω Ceıωt0 − De−iωt0
 
(4)
k
By combining eqs 3 and 4 we can solve the equation for ζt>t0 .

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 Problem 3
Figure 3B (in the text book) illustrates a mass m1 driven by a sinusodial force
whose frequency is ω. The mass m1 is attahced to a rigid support by a spring of
force constant k and slides on a second mass m2 The frictional force between m1 and
m2 is represented by the damping parameter b1 , and the frictional force between m2
and the support is represented by b2 . Construct the electrical analog of this system
and calculate the impedance.
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Solution
—————————
Refer to the Figure 3B in the text book:

m1 x¨1 = −kx1 − b1 (x˙i 1 − x˙2 ) + F Cosωt

m2 x¨2 = −b2 x˙2 − b1 x˙2 − x˙1

How to write the electrical analog for this... Let’s refresh the basics of electrical
circuits and try to understand their oscillations

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 Electrical Analog to Mechanical Vibrations
So we are going to find the electrical analog to the mechanical vibrations.
Before doing this particular problem, let us refresh our memory about the basic
electric circuit elements.
Let’s start with the resistors.
When we have a resistance connected to a voltage source:

The current through the circuit is determined by V = IR. This is an algebric

equation. There’s no any oscillation in this circuit.
Where can the oscillation come from. What is oscillatiing?
Let’s move to other basic circuit elements: Inductors and Capacitors. Unlike
Resistance, where there is no energy storage, but the energy dissipations, the Ca-
pacitors and inductors store energy.
In an Inductor:

when there is a current passing through the circuit, a voltage difference is created
between the ends of the inductor, which is given by:

dI
V =L
dt
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 One main difference is, this is not an algebric equation. Rather it is a differential
equation.
For a Capacitor:

Q
C=
V
R
Idt
C=
V
When you connect a resistor to a voltage source, the energy will come out from
the system in some form, Heat, light etc. In another words, the energy is dissipated.
We cannot use it again.
On the other hand, the energy is stored in inductors and capacitors.
Let’s consider that a charged inductor is connected to a Resistance as shown:

We can write the equations for this circuit as:

dI
L + IR = 0
dt
Where the situation is, the inductor is discharging, The current will decrease as
the energy is dissipated through the resistance.
We can solve the above equation as:

dI R
+ I=0
dt L
which will have a solution for the current through the circuit of the form:
R
I = I0 Exp− L t

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 Current through the circuit is exponentially decreasing. We can find the current
at a given time, if we know the initial conditions.
LC Circuit

Let’s say we start at t = 0 with a fully charged capacitor. So the capacitor is

going to discharge. When the inductor is charged, it will discharge as well. This
will happen back and forth.
Let’s write the circuit equation for this situation;

dI q
L + = 0
dt C
Dd2 Q Q
L + = 0
dt2 C
d2 Q 1
2
+ Q = 0
dt LC
This is exactly equal to the mass-spring problem we did earlier in the class.

d2 x
m + kx = 0
dt2
Now by comparing these two equations, we can write the electrical analogs of
the components in the mechanical vibrations.

x ↔ Q
ẋ ↔ I
L ↔ m
1
k ↔
C
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 The external force in the system is equivalent to the Voltage source. The heat
is dissipated through the damping component, the resistance R.
Let’s work on some problems in the next class.

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