Oscillations &

Mechanical
Wa v e s
•OSCILLATION MOTION
•WAVE MOTION
•SUPERPOSITION & STANDING WAVES
Oscillation

Oscillation refers to the repeated back and forth movement of something between

two positions or states. An oscillation can be a periodic motion that repeats itself in
a regular cycle, such as a sine wave —a wave with perpetual motion as in the side-to-
side swing of a pendulum, or the up-and-down motion of a spring with a weight.
Example of Oscillation

The term oscillation can refer to any type of periodic motion, whether it is simple or
complex, regular or irregular. One example of oscillatory motion is a pendulum
swinging back and forth. The pendulum is constantly accelerating as it changes
direction, which means that its motion is not linear.
Mechanical Waves

A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers

energy through a medium. While waves can move over long distances, the movement
of the medium of transmission of the material is limited.
A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter and is responsible for
the transfer of energy through a medium.
The distance of the wave’s propagation is limited by the medium of transmission. In
this case, the oscillating material moves about a fixed point, and there is very little
translational motion. One intriguing property of mechanical waves is the way they are
measured, which is given by displacement divided by the wavelength. When this
dimensionless factor is 1, it generates harmonic effects; for example, waves break on
the beach when this factor exceeds 1, resulting in turbulence.
Two Types of Mechanical Waves

Longitudinal waves
Transverse waves
Longitudinal Waves

Longitudinal waves – In this type of wave, the .

movement of the particles is parallel to the
motion of the energy, i. e. the displacement of
the medium is in the same direction in which
the wave is moving. Example – Sound Waves,
Pressure Waves
Transverse Waves

Transverse waves –  When the movement of .

the particles is at right angles or
perpendicular to the motion of the energy,
then this type of wave is known as a
transverse wave.  Light is an example of a
transverse wave.
Oscillatory Motions

Oscillatory motions fall under the bracket of .

oscillation. An oscillatory motion is the
repeated motion through equal time intervals
of an oscillating body around its rest point. In
other words, it is the back-and-forth motion of
an object from its so-called mean position.
Examples of Oscillatory Motion

1 Oscillation of simple pendulum

2 Vibrating strings of musical instruments is a mechanical example of oscillatory
motion
3 Movement of spring
4 Alternating current is an electrical example of oscillatory motion
5 Series of oscillations are seen in cosmological model
Wave Motion

Wave motion is a mode of transfer of energy or a form of disturbance travelling

through an elastic medium due to the repeated oscillations of the particles of the
medium about their mean positions. The particles of the medium are not carried
along the waves
Period of Vibration

The period of vibration, T, is the time taken for a particle such as the one at A to move from A
to B and back to A. the frequency of vibration (f or v) is the number of such vibrations
executed by the particle each second.
f = 1/T
If T is in seconds, then f is in hertz (Hz),

where:
1 Hz = 1 vibration/s = 1 cycle/s
Speed of a Transverse Wave

Speed of a Transverse Wave on a stretched string or wire is

v=
Speed of Longitudinal Wave

Speed of Longitudinal Wave (compressional wave) depends on the elasticity and density of
the medium
in liquids v= =

in solid rods v= =

in gases v= =
Where:

Y, the ratio of specific heats cp/cv, is about 1.67 for monatomic gases such as helium and
neon.
It is about 1.40 for diatomic gases such as N2, O=, and H2
Solved Problem 1

What is the speed of compressional waves (sound waves) in water? The bulk modulus
for water is 2.2 x N/.
Given: bulk modulus of water = is 2.2 x N/.
Required: speed of compressional waves
Solution:
v = = = 1480 m/s
Solved Problem 2

Calculate the speed of sound waves in air at 0⁰C and a pressure of 76 cm of mercury.
The density of the air under this condition is 1.293 kg/, and ρ for mercury is 13.6
g/. Youngs Modulus, γ, for air is 1.40.
Given: temperature, t = 0⁰C
pressure = 76 cm of mercury
ρair = 1.293 kg/
ρmercury = 13.6 g/
Young Modulus, γair = 1.40
Required: speed of sound waves, ν
Solution

Solution:
ν= but p = ρmercurygh
ρmercury = 13.6 g/ = 13 600 kg/
h = 76 cm = 0.76 m
p = (13 600 kg/)(9.8 m/)(0.76 m) p = 1.01 x N/
Therefore
ν=
ν = 331 m/s
Superposition

In physics, superposition is the phenomenon in which two or more wave-like

phenomena combine to produce a new wave-like phenomenon. The new wave-like
phenomenon is the sum of the original wave-like phenomena. In the case of electric
charge, superposition occurs when two or more electric charges combine to produce
a new electric charge.
Principle of Superposition

“The principle of superposition states that every charge in space creates an electric field
at point independent of the presence of other charges in that medium. The resultant
electric field is a vector sum of the electric field due to individual charges.”

The superposition principle is used to compute the net flux, net field, the net potential
energy of the system.

The force experienced by a charge due to other charges is the vector sum of the Coulomb
forces acting on it due to these other charges. Similarly , the electric intensity E at a point
due to several charges is the vector sum of the intensities due to the individual charges.
 Coulomb’s Law

Suppose that two points, q and q’, are a distance r apart in vacuum. If q and q’ have the same sign, the two charges
repel each other, if they have opposite signs, then they attract each other. The force experienced by one charge due to
the other is given by Coulomb’s Law,
F=k k = 1/4ꙥꜪo F = (1/4ꙥꜪo)()
Where k = positive constant = 9 x N - /
q and q’ = charges, coulomb (C)
r = distance between two charges, meter
Ꜫo = permittivity of free space = 8.85 x

1 microcoulomb (μC) = C 1 nanocoulomb (nC) = C

Solved Problem 3

Two coins lie 1.5 m apart on a table. They Solution:

carry identical charges. How large is the
From Coulomb’s Law F = k
charge on each if a coin experiences a force of 2
N? qq’ = q = q’
Given: distance, r = 1.5 m apart = =
q = q’ =5x q=
F=2N
q = 2.2 x C
Required: charge, q
Solved Problem 4

A helium nucleus has charge +2e and a neon nucleus +10e,where e is the charge quantum,
1.60 x C. Find the repulsion force exerted on one by the other when they are 3 nanometers (1
nm = Assume them to be in vacuum.
Given: q for nucleus = +2e
q” for neon = +10e
e = 1.60 x C
r = 3 nanometers
Required: repulsion force
Solution

F=k
F = (9 x N /)

F = 5.1 x