Chapter 3 Oscillations and Wave Motion

3-1 Oscillations

3-2 Wave Motion

3-3 Sound
3-1 Oscillations
Play a piano

Play a guitar

Earthquakes
3-1 Oscillations

3-1-1 Oscillations of a Spring

3-1-2 Simple Harmonic Motion

3-1-3 Energy of Simple Harmonic Motion

3-1-1 Oscillations of a Spring

What is oscillation (or oscillatory motion)?

The reciprocating motion that repeats itself .

The oscillatory motion is periodic.

The oscillation is a fundamental physical

phenomenon and basic component of wave motion.

Oscillations occur in the vicinity of a point of stable

equilibrium.
An equilibrium point is the position where the net
force on the object is zero.
What is stable equilibrium?
An equilibrium point is stable if the net force on an
object when it is displaced a small distance from
equilibrium points back toward the equilibrium
point.
Restoring force
The simplest form of periodic motion

F
We choose the equilibrium
position as the origin (x=0),
where the spring is relaxed.

the equilibrium position x=0, the force F=0, vmax

x = A or x =-A, v=0, Fmax.
This force is called restoring force.
 F   kx The Hooke’s Law
The proportionality constant k in equation is called the
spring constant. The negative sign expresses the
direction of restoring force is opposite to the direction
of displacement.

This force is just the dynamic reason for the oscillation.

F
k
A few terms on oscillation
Displacement(x): the position of the mass relative to the
equilibrium point at any moment
Amplitude(A): the greatest distance from the equilibrium point
Period(T ): the time required for one complete oscillation
Frequency(f ): the number of complete oscillations per second

Relation between T and f

1
f  The frequency is inversely proportional to the period
T

Units of T and f
The unit of T is second(s) and f is hertz(Hz).
1 Hz = 1 oscillation per second = 1 s–1
3-1 Oscillations

3-1-1 Oscillations of a Spring

3-1-2 Simple Harmonic Motion

3-1-3 Energy of Simple Harmonic Motion

3-1-2 Simple Harmonic Motion
An oscillatory system for which net restoring force is
directly proportional to the negative of the displacement
is said to exhibit simple harmonic motion (SHM).
This system is often called a simple harmonic
oscillator (SHO).

F
The Solution of SHM
d2 x
F   kx F  ma a
dt 2
d2 x d2 x k
 kx  m 2  x0
dt dt 2
m
k d2 x 2
2 2
  x0
m dt
The solution of this second derivative equation is
x  A cos(t   )

The expression is called oscillation equation, in

which A and  are two constants, they can be
determined by initial conditions of oscillation.
Oscillation Equation

x  A cos(t   ) x

x(t): Displacement at time t

T 2T t
o
A: Amplitude T
2
3T
2

 : Angular frequency
 t +  : Phase
: Phase constant (or initial phase)
The oscillation equation shows that the displacement of
SHM is a periodic function of time.
Velocity and acceleration of a SHM

dx d
v  A cos(t   )  A sin(t   )
dt dt
d 2 x dv d
a 2    A sin(t   )   2 A cos(t   ).
dt dt dt

Obviously, the velocity and acceleration of oscillator is also SHM.

The maximum velocity is wA, and the maximum acceleration is w2A.

Because of a phase difference 2 between v and a,
when v= vmax =A (at equilibrium point), a=0;
when v=0 (at amplitude point), a=amax= w2A.
Basic Characteristic Quantities of a SHM

1. Angular frequency() and frequency(f ) :

x  A cos(t   )  A cos[ (t  T )   ]
2 1 
T f     2f
 T 2

where f is the number of oscillations that are completed per

second, called frequency. Therefore, the angular frequency()
is the number of oscillations that are completed in 2 seconds.
Discuss: frequency and period of spring oscillator

k
From   and   2f , we have
m F

 1 k 1 m
f   T  2
2 2 m f k

where f is called natural frequency ， that is determined by

k and m of the spring oscillator.

The greater the mass, the lower the frequency;

and the stiffer the spring, the higher the frequency.
How do we produce sound with a guitar?
Pluck a string
The string vibrates
The bridge vibrates
The top of the guitar vibrates
The air in the sound box
vibrates (the sound is
amplified)
How do we produce sound of different frequency
with a guitar?
Natural frequency of the string: length, material,
thickness and tension of the spring
Basic Characteristic Quantities of a SHM

2. Phase(t + ) and initial phase ( ) :

At any time t, the motion state ( x,v, and a) of a certain

oscillatory object is determined by phase(t +).
At time t=0, the motion state is determined by initial
phase().
This is the significance of phase and initial phase.
Determine the initial phase 

Unit circle: radius is 1.

A In RtΔOAB

x  OB  OA cos   cos 

O B
y  AB  OA sin   sin 

Note: It applies to any .

Describe the SHM with a circle

Imagine a ball is doing uniform circular motion

(anticlockwise).

The radius is A.
The speed is ωA.
(angular speed is ω)

The shadow of the

ball on x-axis:

x  A cos t   
Same form as SHM!
 Determine the initial phase 
o v=0
1
x=A x<0, v<0 x>0, v<0
v
2
x= 0

v=0 x  A cos t   

3
x= -A
v
4
x= 0

o x<0, v>0 x>0, v>0

v=0
5
x=A x  A cos t   
Example

If the initial condition of a spring oscillator has be given,

determine the initial phase  in oscillation equation.

Initial State 1:
v=0 Answer   0
o x=A

Initial State 2:
v 
Answer  
x= 0 2
Initial State 3: 
v
Answer   
x= 0
2
 Sum up

x(t )  A cos(t   )

dx d
v  A cos(t   )  A sin(t   )
dt dt
d 2 x dv d
a 2    A sin(t   )   2 A cos(t   ).
dt dt dt

  2f

 1 k 1 m
f   T  2
2 2 m f k
Example

The cone of a loudspeaker vibrates in SHM at a

frequency 262 Hz (“middle C”). The amplitude at
the center of the cone is A = 1.5×104 m, and at
t = 0, x = A. (a) What is the equation describing
the motion of the center of the cone? (b) What is
its maximum velocity and maximum acceleration?
(c) What is the position of the cone at t = 1.00 ms?
Solution

(a) A = 1.5×104m

ω = 2f = (2×3.14rad)(262s1) = 1650rad/s

when t = 0, x = A = 0

So, the equation with cosine function is

x  A cos(t   )  (1.5 10 4 m) cos(1650t )
 4
v
(b) max  A  (1650 rad / s )(1. 5  10 m)  0.25m / s

amax   2 A  (1650rad / s) 2 (1.5  10 4 m)  410m / s 2

(c) t = 1.00 ms:

x  (1.5  10 4 m) cos[(1650rad / s)(1.00  10 3 s)]  1.2  10 5 m
 Example

A particle vibrates in SHM along x axis , A=0.12m, T=2s.

When t = 0, x0= 0.06m, and v0 > 0 (moves along the
positive direction of the axis x). Try to find out:
(a) The expression of this SHM;
(b) When t = T/4, v=? and a=?
(c) At what time will the particle pass the “O point” for
the first time?
Solution

(a) x = 0.12cos (t – /3) (m)

(Why the initial phase is –/3 ?)

(b) v = – 0.12  sin (t – /3)= – 0.188 m/s

a = – 0.12 2 cos (t – /3)= – 1.03 m/s2

5 / 6
(c) t   0.83s

3-1 Oscillations

3-1-1 Oscillations of a Spring

3-1-2 Simple Harmonic Motion

3-1-3 Energy of Simple Harmonic Motion

3-1-3 Energy of Simple Harmonic Motion

a spring oscillator ：
1 1
Kinetic energy: mv 2
K  m[A sin(t   )]2
2 2
1 2 1
Potential energy: U  kx  k[ A cos(t   )]2
2 2

Total energy: E  K U
(k  m 2, vmax   A) 1 2 1 2
 kA  mvmax
2 2
 1 2 1 2 1 2
E  K  U  mv  kx  kA
2 2 2

k 2 2 k x2
v (A  x )  A (1  2 )
m m A

vmax  A  A k / m

x2
v   vmax 1 2
A

When x = 0, v is maximum; when x = ±A, v is zero.

Example

An object of 10.0 kg is attached to an ideal spring

of spring constant 2.5 N/m. The spring is initially in
its relaxed position. The object is then released and
oscillates about its equilibrium position. The motion
is described by

𝑦 =( 4.0 𝑐𝑚 ) sin ⁡[ (
0.50 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝑠
𝑡] )
(1) What is the maximum elastic potential energy?
(2) What is the maximum kinetic energy?
Solution

(1) Potential energy:

1 2
U  kx
2
1 2 1
U max  kA   2.5  0.042  0.002 J
2 2
1 2
(2) Kinetic energy: K  mv
2
1 2 1
K max  mvmax  m( A) 2
2 2
1
 10.0  (0.50  0.04) 2  0.002 J
2