B.Sc.

Physics
HARMONIC OSCILLAIONS
 OSCILLATORY MOTION

1. If an object repeats back and forth motion over the same path
about its mean position in equal intervals of time, then its
motion is called oscillatory motion.

2. It is periodic motion.

3. Its waveform is sinusoidal in shape.

4. Its example are motion of simple pendulum, steel rule clamped at

one end and mass-sprig system.
 Oscillation

1. One complete round trip of a vibrating body is called

oscillation or vibration.
 Harmonic Oscillator

1. An object which executes periodic oscillatory motion under

the action of restoring force, is called harmonic oscillator.
 Time Period

1. The time taken to complete one vibration or oscillation is called time

period.

2. It is denoted by symbol T.

3. Its SI unit is second.

 Frequency

1. Number of oscillations performed by a vibrating body in unit time

(one second) is called frequency.

2. It is denoted by symbol f.

3. Mathematically, f = 1/T.

4. Its SI unit is hertz denoted by “Hz”.

 Displacement

1. The distance of oscillator from either side of mean position at certain

instant is called displacement.

2. It is denoted by symbol “x”.

3. Its SI unit is meter.

 Amplitude

1. The maximum distance of oscillator from either side of mean

position is called Amplitude.

2. It is denoted by symbol “xo” or “xm”.

 Restoring Force

1. The force which bring the body back to its original position is called
restoring force.

2. In equilibrium, it is equal in magnitude to the applied force but

opposite in direction.

3. For example, in mass spring system, applied force by Hooke’s law is

F=kx

4. Restoring force will be Fr = - k x.

 Simple harmonic Motion

1. A type of oscillatory motion in which acceleration of the object is

directly proportional to displacement and is always directed
towards mean position, is called Simple Harmonic Motion.

2. Mathematically, we can write as under:-

a α –x

a = - (Constant) x
 Equation of Simple harmonic Motion

1. Consider a harmonic oscillator in the form of a spring-mass system

as shown:-
 Equation of Simple harmonic Motion

1. According to Hooke’s Law, applied force is F = k x.

2. The elastic restoring force of soring is Fr = - k x.

3. According to Newton’s second law, F = ma.

Equate these equations, we get: ma=-kx

Comparing R.H.S. of both equations gives:-

 Equation of Simple harmonic Motion

Put

Where is angular frequency of harmonic oscillator measured in radian per second.

This equation is second order differential equation which represents

Simple Harmonic Motion.
 Solution of Simple Harmonic Motion

Where = is maximum velocity of the oscillator at mean position.

Where = is maximum acceleration of simple harmonic oscillator at extreme position.

 Energy Relations in Simple Harmonic Motion

K.E. = 0.5 m v2 = 0.5 m = 0.5 k

K.E.max = E

P.E. = 0.5 k x2 = 0.5 k

K.E.max = E

E = K.E. + P.E. = 0.5 k xm2

Energy Relations in Simple Harmonic Motion
 Damped Simple Harmonic Motion

t = 0  x = xm

t = infinite  x = 0

K.E. = 0.5 k

P.E. = 0.5 k

E = K.E. + P.E. = 0.5 k xm2

Damped Simple Harmonic Motion
Forced Oscillations
 Ideal Resonance

β=0

ω = ωo

Xm approaches infinite
 Practical Resonance

β≠0

ω = ωo

Xm = Fo/2mβωo
 Low and High Frequency

β=0

ω >> ωo

Xm = Fo/m ω2

Or

ω << ωo

Xm = Fo/m ωo2