PH 1003 (Waves and Optics)

Assignment 1

1. A mass spring system has mass 2.0 kg, spring with constant 3.0 N/m, and amplitude of
vibration 0.10 m. Calculate the angular frequency and frequency. Write expressions for
position, velocity, and acceleration as a function of time. Take t=0 at the equilibrium
position. Graph position, velocity, and acceleration as a function of time.

2. A mass in the end of a spring oscillates with amplitude of 5cm at a frequency of 1 Hz. At
t=0 the mass is at its equilibrium position (x=0).
(a) Find the possible equation describing the position of the mass as a function of time, in
the form x= A cos(ωt+α), giving numerical values of A, ω, and α.
(b) What are the values of x, dx/dt, and d2x/dt2 at t=8/3 sec?

3. A point moves in circle at a constant speed of 50 cm/sec. The period of one complete
journey around the circle is 6 sec. At t=0 the line to the point from the center of the circle
makes an angle of 30º with the axis.
(a) Obtain the equation of the x coordinate of the point as a function of time, in the form
x=Acos(ωt+α), giving numerical values of A, ω, and α.

Find the values of x, dx/dt, d2x/dt2 at t=2sec.

d 2x
4. Verify that the differential equation = −kx has its solution y=Acos(kx)+Bsin(kx),
dt 2
where A and B are arbitrary constants. Show also that this solution can be written in the
form y=Ccos(kx+α)=CRe[(Ceiα)eikx] and express C and α as a functions of A and B.

5. Express the following in the form z=Re[Aei(ωt+α)]

(a) z = sin t + cos t
 
(b) z = cos t −  − cos t
 3
(c) z = 2 cos t + 3 cos t
 
(d ) z = sin t − 2 cos t −  + cos t
 4

6. An object of mass 1 g is hung from a spring and set in oscillatory motion. At t=0 the
displacement is 43.785 cm and the acceleration is -1.7514 cm/sec2. What is the spring
constant?

7. A cylinder of diameter d floats with one of its length submerged. The total height is L.
Assume no damping. At time t=0 the cylinder is pushed down a distance B and released.
(a) What is the frequency of oscillation?
 (b)Draw a graph of velocity versus time from t=0 to t=one period. The correct amplitude
and phase should be included.

8. A particle vibrates with simple harmonic motion of amplitude 5 cm and a period of 6 s.

How long it take to move from one end of its path to a position 2.5 cm from the equilibrium
position on the same side?

9. A string of length L is fixed at both ends. The tension is T. A very small mass, m, is
attached to the string in the middle (see the figure). The mass of the string is negligibly
small compared to m.

What is the angular frequency, ω, for very small amplitude transverse oscillations (i.e., in the
vertical direction).

10. Two vibrations along the same line are described by the equations
y1 = A cos(10t )
y 2 = A cos(12t )
Find the beat period, and draw a sketch of the resultant disturbance over one beat period.

11. Find the frequency of the combined motion of each of the following:
( )
(a) sin 2t - 2 + cos(2t )
 
(b) sin (12t ) + cos13t − 
 4
(c) sin (3t ) - cos(t )
12. Two vibrations at right angles to one another are described by the equations
x = 10 cos(5t )
 
y = 10 cos10t + 
 3

Construct the Lissajous figure of the combined motion.

 PH 1003 (Waves and Optics)
Assignment 2

1. A platform is excusing Simple harmonic motion in a vertical direction with amplitude of 5 cm and a
frequency of 10/π vibrations per second. A block is placed at the lowest point of its path.
(a) At what point will the block leave the platform?
(b) How far will the block rise above the highest point reached by the platform?
2. Verify that x = Ae −t cos t is a possible solution to of the equation
d 2x dx
2
+ + 02 x = 0
dt dt
And find α and ω in terms of ω0.

3. An object of mass 0.2 Kg is hung from a spring whose spring constant is 80 N/m. The object is
subject to a resistive force given by –bv, where v is the velocity in m/sec.
(a) Set up the differential equation of motion for free oscillations of the system

(b) If the damped frequency is 3 of the undamped frequency, what is the value of constant b?
2
(c) What is the Q of the system, and by what factor is the amplitude of oscillation reduced after
10 complete cycles?
4. A vertical spring has a spring constant 50 N/m. At t=0 a force is given in Newtons by
F(t)=48cos7t,t ≥0 is applied to 20 N weight which hangs in equilibrium at the end of the
spring. Neglecting the damping find the position of the weight at any later time.

5. If an alternating EMF E=E0sinωt is applied to a series LCR circuit, the resulting

alternating current in the circuit is given by (steady state)
i = I sin(t −  )
(a) Find the current amplitude I and phase constant φ.
(b) Show that current amplitude I has the maximum value (resonance) when ω=ω0,
1
where  0 = is the natural frequency.
LC
(c) Show that the value of I and the phase angle φ at resonance are E0/R and zero
respectively.
6. A curve between I and ω in series LCR circuit connected to an EMF E0sinωt has a peak
(I=I0) at ω=ω0 (resonance). Suppose ω1 and ω2 are the two values of ω on both the sides
I0
of ω0 at which the value of I is . Show that
2
 (a) ω1 and ω2 are half power points and Δω=ω2-ω1=R/L.
(b) The quality factor of the circuit is Q=ω0L/R
7. Two equal masses m are connected with two identical massless springs of spring constant 𝑘 as
shown:
(a) Show that the angular frequency of
the two normal modes of vertical
oscillations are given by

2 = 3 5( ) 2km .
(b) And also show that in the slower
mode the ratio of the amplitude of
mass A to that of mass B is
1
2
( )
5 − 1 while in the faster mode

this ratio is
1
2
( 5 +1 .)

8. A vibratory motion is represented by

  A  3 
x = 2 A cos t + A cos t +  + A cos(t +  ) + cos t + 
 2 2  2 
What will be the resultant amplitude of the motion?