Dundesanos Government Employees Savings and Loan Cooperative Society Limited

Unit 6
Mechanical Oscillation and Sound Wave
6.1 Common Characteristics of Waves
There are common terms such as period, frequency, amplitude, wave speed and wavelength that are used to explain periodic
motion. These are common characteristics that all waves share and are discussed below.
Rest position: Rest position is the undisturbed position of particles or fields when they are not vibrating.
Displacement: Displacement is the distance that a certain point in the medium has moved from its rest
position. Trough: Trough is the lowest point below the rest position. Crest: Crest is the highest point above the rest position.
Period (T): Period, denoted by symbol T, is the time for one complete cycle of the periodic motion. It is also defined as the
time taken for one complete wave to pass a given point.
Frequency (f ): Frequency, denoted by symbol f, of a wave is defined as the number of complete waves passing a given point
per unit time. The higher the frequency, the greater the number of waves per second. A common unit for frequency is one
cycle per second. This is defined as one Hertz (Hz). 1Hz=1 cycle/s.
Amplitude (A): Amplitude is defined as the maximum displacement from equilibrium position. Amplitude is denoted by the
symbol A and measured in meters (m).
Wave speed (v): Wave speed is defined as the distance the wave travels in one second. It is denoted by the symbol v and like
all speeds it is measured in meter per second.
Wavelength (λ): Wavelength is defined as the distance between identical points on adjacent waves. For example, the distance
between two adjacent crests or troughs of a wave is one wavelength.
Wavelength is denoted by Greek letter λ (lambda).
Therefore, the period of the wave is 0.5 second. Hence, the period is the reciprocal of the frequency.
f = 1 /T or T = 1/ f ------- (6.1) In terms of wavelength and frequency, wave speed can be written as, wave speed = frequency
× wavelength ⇒ v = λ×f --------------- (6.2)
6.2 String, Pendulum and spring Periodic motion

A motion that repeats itself over and over is referred to as periodic
motion. The beating of your heart, the ticking of a clock, and the
movement of a child on a swing are familiar examples. One of the key
characteristics of a periodic system is the time required for the
completion of one cycle of its repetitive motion. A swinging simple
pendulum is another example of periodic motion. A simple pendulum
consists of a point mass (the bob) suspended by a mass less, un-
stretchable string.
If the pendulum is displaced from equilibrium, it swings back and forth, and its motion is periodic. A simple pendulum is defined to have
an object that has a small mass, also known as the pendulum bob, which is suspended from a light wire or string, such as shown in Figure
6.4. The period of a simple pendulum is given by T = 2π

g √
l where, L is the length of the simple pendulum and g is the
acceleration due to gravity. The derivation of this equation is beyond the scope of this textbook. This result is
interesting because of its simplicity. The only parameters that affect the period of a simple pendulum are its length
and the acceleration due to gravity. The period is completely independent of other factors, such as mass. If the length of a
Pendulum is precisely known, it can actually be used to measure the acceleration
due to gravity.
Example 6.1
What is the period of a simple pendulum with length 50 cm? Use the acceleration
due to gravity g = 9.8m/s2
Given: L = 50 cm = 0.5m, g = 9.8m/s2 Required: T =? Solution:
have,
The period of a simple pendulum is given by T = 2π
√ l
g
Substituting the values of L and g and using π=3.14 we
T = 2π
√ 0.5 m
9.8 m/s 2
= 1.42s
Example 6.2
A simple pendulum has a length of 100 cm and oscillates periodically with a period
of 0.65π s at a certain place. What is the value of the acceleration due to gravity at
that place?
Given: L = 100 cm = 1m, T = 0.65π Required: T =?
Solution:
From the expression of the period of a simple pendulum,
√
2 2
l 2π 2π
T = 2π the acceleration due to gravity at that place is given by g = ( )xL ( ) x 1m = 9.47m/s2
g T 0.65 π s
The simple spring

We are all familiar with a spring. Suppose an object of massmis attached to one
end, while the other end of the spring is held fixed. The object has an equilibrium
position, call it x = 0, and this is the position where the spring is neither stretched
nor compressed. If the object is displaced away from x = 0 (either stretched or
compressed) and released, it will undergo a to and fro motion about x = 0. This is
another example of periodic motion. In this case, x is the distance by which the
spring is either stretched or compressed and is measured from the equilibrium
position.
If the object is displaced form x = 0, the spring pulls (or pushes) it back to
the equilibrium position (x = 0). Thus, the spring produces a restoring force
denoted by Fr es . The restoring force (or the force exerted by the spring) is directly
proportional to the displacement of the object fromthe equilibriumposition x.
Mathematically,
Fr es = −kx (6.4)
Where, k is a proportionality constant called the spring constant (or stiffness)
of the spring. The negative sign shows that the restoring force acts opposite to
the displacement of the object. This is called Hooke’s law. The above equation
Can also be written as
Fapp = kx, (6.5) Where, Fapp is now the applied force on the spring.The force exerted by the spring is a
restoring force. No matter which way the Object is displaced from equilibrium, the spring force always acts to return the
Object to equilibrium. If k is large, then the spring is stiff and produces a lot of force for a small Displacement. If k is small,
then the spring is said to be loose and doesn’t pull back with much force. The spring constant k can be measured by applying a
force(Fapp ) and measuring how much the spring stretches (x). Then k = Fapp/x and
has units of force/distance (N/m). An oscillating object moves repeatedly one way and then in the opposite
Direction through its equilibrium position. The displacement of the object (i.e.,
distance and direction) from equilibrium continually changes during the motion.
In one full cycle after being released from a non-equilibrium position, theDisplacement of the object:
• decreases as it returns to equilibrium • reverses and increases as it moves away from equilibrium in the opposite direction
• decreases as it returns to equilibrium

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Unit 6

Mechanical Oscillation and Sound Wave

6.1 Common Characteristics of Waves

Wavelength is denoted by Greek letter λ (lambda).

6.2 String, Pendulum and spring Periodic motion

6.4. The period of a simple pendulum is given by T = 2π

The simple spring

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