Chapter-14

Oscillations
Periodic motion
• The motion which repeats itself after a regular interval of time is called a
periodic (or harmonic motion).
• Eg:- revolution of earth around sun.
• Motion of hands of a clock.
Oscillatory Motion
• If a body in periodic motion moves along the same path to and fro about a
definite point (mean position) , then the motion of the body is oscillatory motion.
• Eg:- When a loaded spring is pulled and then released, the load attached to the
spring executes oscillatory motion.
• Oscillation of simple pendulum.
All oscillatory motions are periodic but all periodic motions are not oscillatory.
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
• It is an important type of oscillatory motion.” A particle is said to execute SHM
when it vibrates periodically in such a way that any instant the force acting on it
is directly proportional to the displacement from a fixed point in its path and is
always directed towards that fixed point.
• A particle is said to execute SHM if it moves to and fro about the mean
position(equilibrium) in a straight line and the graph between displacement of
the particle from equilibrium position and time is a sine or cosine curve.
Uniform Circulatory motion and SHM
• Let P be the reference particle which is moving along the circumference of a
circle. When the reference particles P is at X, its projection will be at O along the
diameter YOY’. When the reference point P is moving from X to Y along the circle
its projection M moves from O to Y along the diameter YOY’.
• When P moves from Y to X’ its projection moves from Y to O acting along the
direction YOY’. When the reference particle is moving from X’ to X via Y’ its
projection on diameter moves from O to Y’ and then Y’ to O. So, the reference
particle complete one rotation around the circle when its projection along the
diameter will complete one to fro motion. Also, the projection completes a SHM.
• Projection of circular motion of a particle on the diameter executes SHM.
Characteristics of SHM
(i) Displacement in SHM
The displacement of a particle executing SHM at any instant is defined as the
distance of the particle from the mean position.
 For vertical displacement
From the diagram in ∆OPN
𝑃𝑁
sin 𝜃 = 𝑂𝑃

PN = OP sin 𝜃 , y = A sin 𝜃
For horizontal displacement in ∆OPM,
𝑃𝑀
cos 𝜃 = 𝑂𝑃

PM = OP cos 𝜃
x = A cos 𝜃
y= A sin 𝜃
x= A cos 𝜃
y= A sin 𝜔𝑡
x= A cos 𝜔𝑡
(ii) Velocity in SHM
Rate of change of the displacement of the particle with time at the given instant.
We know that
y = A sin 𝜃
= A sin 𝜔𝑡
𝑑𝑦 𝑑(A sin 𝜔𝑡) 𝑑 (𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡)
v= = =A
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

= A cos 𝜔𝑡 𝜔 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 = 1

= A𝜔 √1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡 = 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡

cos 𝜔𝑡 = √1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡
= 𝜔 √𝐴2 − 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡

= 𝜔 √𝐴2 − 𝑦 2

v = ± 𝜔 √𝐴2 − 𝑦 2
Case-(i): - At mean position y=0

v = ± 𝜔 √𝐴2 − 𝑦 2

v= ± 𝜔A
Case-(ii): - At Extreme position y=A

v = ± 𝜔 √𝐴2 − 𝐴2
v=0
 (iii)Amplitude
It is the maximum displacement of the particle executing SHM from the mean
position
(iv) Acceleration in SHM
Rate of change of the velocity of the particle with time at the given instant.
We know that
v= A 𝜔cos 𝜔𝑡
𝑑𝑣 𝑑(A𝜔 cos 𝜔𝑡)
a= =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡
a = A𝜔 𝑑𝑡

a= A 𝜔(- 𝜔 sin 𝜔𝑡)

2
a= - A 𝜔 sin 𝜔𝑡
2
a= - 𝜔 y
Case-(i):- At mean position y=0
a=0
Case-(ii):- At Extreme position y=A
2
a= - 𝜔 A
(v) Frequency in SHM
Frequency is the number of oscillations that a particle performs per unit time.
2
We know a= 𝜔 y
𝑎
𝜔 2= 𝑦
𝑎
(2𝜋𝜐)2 = 𝑦
𝑎
4𝜋 2 𝜐 2 = 𝑦

1 𝑎
𝜐2 = 4𝜋 2 𝑦

1 𝑎
𝜐= √𝑦
2𝜋

1 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
= √𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
2𝜋

(vi) Time period in SHM

Time taken to complete one oscillation in SHM
1
T= 𝜐

𝑦
= 2𝜋 √𝑎
(vii) Phase: - It is the state of vibrating particle with regards to direction of motion of
particle and position of the particle at any instant of time.
Epoch (∅): -It is the initial phase of a particle and it remains constant all the time for a
given motion.
Case:1 Case:2
y= A sin(𝜔t − ∅) y= A sin(𝜔t + ∅)

NOTE:
y= A sin(𝜔t ± ∅)
x= A cos(𝜔t ± ∅)
y or x= displacement
A = amplitude
𝜔 = Angular Frequency
𝜔t + ∅ = Phase(time dependent)
∅ = Epoch or phase constant
Graphical Representation of displacement, velocity and acceleration

T 𝜽= 𝝎𝑡 y= A V=A𝝎co a=- A
sin s 𝝎𝑡 𝝎 2 sin
𝝎𝑡 𝝎𝑡

0 0 0 A𝜔 0

T/4 𝜋/2 A 0 -A 𝜔 2

T/2 𝜋 0 -A 𝜔 0

3T/4 3𝜋/2 -A 0 A𝜔 2

T 2𝜋 0 A𝜔 0

sin 360 = 0, cos 360 =1

sin 270 = -1, cos 270 =0
sin 180 = 0, cos 180 =-1
sin 90 = 1, cos 90 =0
sin 0 = 0, cos 0 =1

Total Energy in SHM

T.E =P.E + K.E ……….(1)
Kinetic Energy
K.E = ½ m v 2

v = 𝜔 √𝐴2 − 𝑥 2
1
K.E = m𝜔 2 (𝐴2 − 𝑥 2 ) …………..(2)
2
1
K.Emax = m𝜔 2 𝐴2 (at mean position)
2

K.Emin = 0 (at extreme position)

Potential Energy
1
Potential energy= 2 k𝑥 2
1
P.E = 2 (𝜔2 m)𝑥 2
1
P.E = 2 m𝜔2 𝑥 2
𝑘
𝜔2=𝑚

k = 𝜔2 m
 1
P.Emax = m𝜔2 𝐴2 (at extreme position)
2

P.Emin = 0
Total Energy
1 1
T.E = m𝜔 2 (𝐴2 − 𝑥 2 ) + m𝜔 2 𝑥 2
2 2
1
= m𝜔 2 (𝐴2 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 )
2
1
= 2 m𝜔 2 𝐴2 Total energy is independent of position.

Variation of kinetic energy, potential energy and total energy as a function of

displacement

Examples of SHM
1. Oscillations due to a spring
Consider one end of
spring is attached to a rigid
support and the other end, to a
body of mass m. This set up is on
a frictionless surface. When it is
stretched, the spring oscillates
about its mean position.From
Hook’s Law, restoring force is
directly proportional to
the displacement and towards the
mean position.
F 𝛼- x
F = -kx ……………….(1)

From Newton’s second law,

F=ma ………….(2)
From (1) and (2)
ma= -kx
k
a= − m x ………….(3)
 The above equation shows that acceleration is directly proportional is
displacement and towards the mean position. So, the spring execute the SHM.
For SHM
2
a= - 𝜔 x …………..(4)
Equating (3) and(4)
2 k
-𝜔 x = −m x

2 k
𝜔 = m

𝑘
𝜔=√𝑚 …………(5)

2𝜋
We know that 𝜔= =2𝜋𝜗 …………(6)
𝑇

Equating (5) and (6)

𝑘
2 𝜋 𝜗 = √𝑚

1 𝑘
Frequency 𝜗= √
2𝜋 𝑚

𝑚
Time period = 2 𝜋 √ 𝑘

2.Simple Pendulum
Simple pendulum consists of a
both attached to the end of a light
inextensible string. When the bob is
displaced to one side are released, it
executes SHM.Consider a bob of mass ‘m’ is
tied with the fine string thread. Other end is
attached with rigid support where ‘l‘ is the
length of the pendulum.
Let the bob of mass m is displaced
through x from the mean position (O) and
released so that it will oscillate about the
mean position. The bob displaced from the mean position O to position B through a
small angle 𝜃.
𝑎𝑟𝑐
𝜃 = 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠
𝑥
𝜃= ………….(1)
𝑙

The following forces are acting on the bob at the extreme position B.
1. Weight of bob acting vertically downwards w= mg can be resolved into 2
components mg cos 𝜃 and mg sin 𝜃.
2. Tension T acting towards the suspension points, T = mg cos 𝜃.
The component mg sin 𝜃 acts tangent to the arc along which the bob moves. This
component restore the bob towards its equilibrium position and serves as restoring
force.
Restoring force, F = −mg sin 𝜃 ………(2)
from Newton’s second law,
F= ma ………..(3)
From (2) and (3)
ma = - mg sin 𝜃
a= -g sin 𝜃
From small angle 𝜃, sin 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
a= -g𝜃 …………….(4)
Substitute (1) in (4)
𝑥
a= -g ………(5)
𝑙

Since acceleration is proportional to x and towards its mean position, the pendulum
executes SHM.
For SHM, a= - 𝜔2 x ……….(6)
Equating (5) and (6)
𝑥
-g = - 𝜔2 x
𝑙
𝑔
𝜔2 = 𝑙

𝑔
𝜔=√ 𝑙

𝜔= 2𝜋𝜗

𝑔
√ 𝑙 = 2𝜋𝜗

1 𝑔
𝜗= √𝑙
2𝜋

𝑙
Time period, T = 2𝜋 √𝑔

Note: Time is independent of mass of the bob and depends on length and acceleration
due to gravity.
Note-Second’s Pendulum: A simple pendulum whose time period is 2 second. (Having
length 1m)
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