PHYSICS –PHY101 VU

Summary of Lecture 16 – OSCILLATIONS: II

1. In this chapter we shall continue with the concepts developed in the previous chapter
that relate to simple harmonic motion and the simple harmonic oscillator (SHO). It is
really very amazing that the SHO occurs again and again in physics, and in so many
different branches.
2. As an example illustrating the above, consider a mass suspended
a string. From the diagram, you can see that F = − mg sin θ . For small
values of θ we know that sin θ ≈ θ . Using x = Lθ (length of arc), we
x ⎛ mg ⎞ θ T
have F = − mgθ = − mg = −⎜ ⎟ x. So now we have a restoring L
L ⎝ L ⎠
m
force that is proportional to the distance away from the equilibrium
x = Lθ
point. Hence we have a SHO with ω = g / L . What if we had not
mg sin θθ
made the small θ approximation? We would still have an oscillator
(i.e. the motion would be self repeating) but the solutions of the
differential equation would be too complicated to discuss here.

3. If you take a common object (like a piece of cardboard) and pivot

it at some point, it will oscillate when disturbed. But this is not the P
simple pendulum discussed above because all the mass is not
concentrated at one point. So now let us use the ideas of torque and θ C
angular momentum discussed earlier for many particle systems.
You can see that τ = − Mgd sin θ . For small θ , sin θ ≈ θ and so θ
τ = − Mgdθ . But we also know that τ = Iα where I is the moment of Mg

d 2θ
inertia and α is the angular acceleration, α = . Hence, we have
dt 2
d 2θ d 2θ ⎛ Mgd ⎞
I = − Mgdθ , or, = −⎜ ⎟θ . From this we immediately
⎝ I ⎠
2 2
dt dt
Mgd
see that the oscillation frequency is ω = . Of course, we have
I
used the small angle approximation over here again. Since all variables
except I are known, we can use this formula to tell us what I is about
any point. Note that we can choose to put the pivot at any point on the
body. However, if you put the pivot exactly at the centre of mass then
it will not oscillate. Why? Because there is no restoring force and the
torque vanishes at the cm position, as we saw earlier.

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4. Suppose you were to put the pivot at point P which is at a distance L from the centre
of mass of the irregular object above. What should L be so that you get the same
formula as for a simple pendulum?
L I I
Answer: T = 2π = 2π ⇒L=
g Mgd Md
P is then called the centre of gyration - when suspended from this point it appears as if
all the mass is concentrated at the cm position.

5. Sum of two simple harmonic motions of the same period along the same line:
x1 = A1 sin ωt and x2 = A2 sin (ωt + φ )
Let us look at the sum of x1 and x2 ,
x = x1 + x2 = A1 sin ωt + A2 sin (ωt + φ )
= A1 sin ωt + A2 sin ωt cos φ + A2 sin φ cos ωt
= sin ωt ( A1 + A2 cos φ ) + cos ωt ( A2 sin φ )
Let A1 + A2 cos φ = R cos θ and A2 sin φ = R sin θ . Using some simple trigonometry,
you can put x in the form, x = R sin (ωt + θ ) . It is easy to find R and θ :
A2 sin φ
R= A12 + A22 + A1 A2 cos φ and tan θ = .
A1 + A2 cos φ

Note that if φ = 0 then R = A12 + A22 + A1 A2 = ( A1 + A2 ) = A1 + A2 and tan θ = 0

2

⇒ θ = 0. So we get x = ( A1 + A2 ) sin ωt. This is an example of constructive

interference. If φ = π then R = ( A1 − A2 ) = A1 − A2 and tan θ = 0

2
A12 + A22 − A1 A2 =
⇒ θ = 0. Now we get x = ( A1 − A2 ) sin ωt. This is destructive interference.

6. Composition of two simple harmonic motions of the same period but now at right
angles to each other:
Suppose x = A sin ωt and y = B sin (ωt + φ ) . These are two independent motions. We
x
can write sin ωt = and cos ωt = 1 − x 2 / A2 .
A
y x
From this, = sin ωt cos φ + sin φ cos ωt = cos φ + sin φ 1 − x 2 / A2 . Now square and
B A
rearrange terms to find:
x2 y2 xy
2
+ 2 −2 cos φ = sin 2 φ
A B AB
This is the equation for an ellipse (see questions at the end of this section).
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7. If two oscillations of different frequencies at right angles are combined, the resulting
motion is more complicated. It is not even periodic unless the two frequencies are in
the ratio of integers. This resulting curve are called Lissajous figures. Specifically, if
ωx
x = A sin ω xt and y = B sin (ω y t + φ ) , then periodic motion requires = integers.
ωy
You should look up a book for more details.

8. Damped harmonic motion: Typically the frictional force due to air resistance, or in a
dx
liquid, is proportional to the speed. So suppose that the damping force = −b (why
dt
dx d 2x
negative sign?). Now apply Newton's law to a SHO that is damped: − kx − b = m 2
dt dt
2
d x dx
Rearrange slightly to get the equation for a damped SHO: m 2 + b + kx = 0.
dt dt

k
m

2
k ⎛ b ⎞
Its solution for ≥⎜ ⎟ is x = xme
− bt / 2 m
cos (ω ' t + φ ) . The frequency is now
m ⎝ 2m ⎠
2
k ⎛ b ⎞
changed: ω ' = −⎜ ⎟ . The damping causes the amplitude to decrease with
m ⎝ 2m ⎠
time and when bt / 2m = 1, the amplitude is 1/ e ≈ 1/ 2.7 of its initial value.

9. Forced oscillation and resonance. There is a characteristic value of the driving

frequency ω at which the amplitude of oscillation is a maximum. This condition is
called resonance. For negligible damping resonance occurs at ω = ω0 . Here ω0 is
k
the natural frequency of the system and is given by ω0 = . The equation of
m
d 2x
motion is: m + k x = F0 cos ωt. You should check that this is solved by putting
dt 2
F0
x= cos ωt (just subsitute into the equation and see!). Note that the
(
m ω − ω2
2
0 )
amplitude "blows up" when ω → ω0 . This is because we have no damping term here.
With damping, the amplitude is large when ω → ω0 but remains finite.

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