Waves and Oscillations

Periodic Motion: A motion which repeats itself over and over again after a regular interval of
time is referred to as a periodic motion. For example: The motion of moon about the earth, the
oscillation of a pendulum, the motion of a mass suspended from a coil spring.

Time Period: The time required for each repetition of periodic motion is called time period.

Oscillatory Motion: When the particle, undergoing a periodic motion, covers the same path back
and forth about a mean position, it is said to be executing an oscillatory or vibratory motion. It’s a
to-and-fro (forward and backward) motion.
It is a-
 Periodic motion
 Bounded motion
 To and fro motion

Oscillation or Vibration or Cycle: One complete to and fro motion is called an oscillation or a
vibration or a cycle.

Frequency of Vibration: The number of complete cycles in a unit of time is called the frequency
of vibration.

Simple Harmonic Motion: Whenever a force acting on a particle or object, and hence the
acceleration of the particle, is proportional to its path but is always directed in a direction opposite
to the displacement and if the maximum displacement of the particle is the same on either side of
the mean position, the particle is said to execute a simple harmonic motion.

Characteristics of SHM:

 Periodic Motion
 Restoring Force
 Linear relationship
 Involves sinusoidal functions in its governing equation.

Differential Equation of a Simple Harmonic Oscillator:

If F be the force acting on a particle executing simple harmonic motion and x is the displacement from it’s
mean position. Then F= - kx and according to Newton’s law of motion F= ma where k is called forced
constant, m is the mass of the particle and a is its acceleration.

From these, we can write,

𝑑2 𝑥
𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥 = 𝑚
𝑑𝑡 2

𝑑2 𝑥 𝑘
2
+ 𝑥 = 0 … … … … … … … … 1.1
𝑑𝑡 𝑚

Lecture1_Waves and oscillation

Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Equation 1.1 is called the differential equation of simple harmonic motion. By rearranging it we write

𝑑2 𝑥 𝑘
= − 𝑥 = − 𝑤 2 𝑥 = 𝜇𝑥 … … … … … … … … .1.2
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑚
𝑘
Where, 𝑤 = √𝑚, is the angular velocity of the particle.

𝑑𝑥
Solution: To find a general solution to this equation let's multiply both sides of equation 1.2 by 𝟐 𝑑𝑡 , when
we get,
𝑑𝑥 𝑑2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2 2
= − 𝑤 2𝑥 2
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2. 2
= − 𝑤 2. 2 .𝑥
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Integrating with respect to time, we have

𝑑𝑥 2
( ) = − 𝑤 2 𝑥 2 + 𝐶 … … … … … .1.3
𝑑𝑡

Where C is a constant of integration. Now for maximum displacement, the velocity of SHM is zero,
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑡
= 0 ,when x = a (amplitude)
Now substituting this value in equation 1.3 we get, 𝐶 = 𝑤 2 𝑎2 . From the value of C and equation 1.3 we
can write,
𝑑𝑥 2
( ) = − 𝑤 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑤 2 𝑎2 = 𝑤 2 ( 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑥
= ±𝑤 √( 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑡
𝑘
= ±√ √( 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑚

𝑑𝑥
= 𝑤 𝑑𝑡
√( 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
By integrating with respect to time, we have
𝑥
sin−1 = 𝑤𝑡 + 𝜑
𝑎
𝑥 = 𝑎 sin(𝑤𝑡 + 𝜑)

𝑥 = 𝑎 sin 𝑤𝑡 cos 𝜑 + 𝑎 cos 𝑤𝑡 sin 𝜑

𝑥 = 𝐴 sin 𝑤𝑡 + 𝐵 cos 𝑤𝑡
Where, 𝐴 = 𝑎 cos 𝜑 and 𝐵 = sin 𝜑. Hence, This is the general form of differential equation.

Velocity: The displacement of a particle executing simple harmonic motion is given by,

𝑥 = 𝑎 sin(𝑤𝑡 + 𝜑)

Lecture1_Waves and oscillation

Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
 𝑑𝑥
= ±𝑤 √( 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑡
𝑘
= ±√ √( 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑚
Acceleration: The acceleration of the particle at any time is given by,
𝑑2 𝑥 𝑘
2
= − 𝑥
𝑑𝑡 𝑚

= − 𝑤 2𝑥

Time Period:
𝑥 = 𝑎 sin(𝑤𝑡 + 𝜑)

𝑥 = 𝑎 sin(𝑤𝑡 + 2𝜋 + 𝜑)

Therefore,
2𝜋 𝑚
𝑇= = 2𝜋 √
𝑤 𝑘

Frequency: Number of oscillation made by the particle per second (unit time),
𝑤 1 𝑘
𝑛 = 1/𝑇 = = √
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝑚

Angular frequency:
2𝜋
𝑤 = 2𝜋𝑛 =
𝑇

Lecture1_Waves and oscillation

Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT
Lecture1_Waves and oscillation
Md Abdul Momin_Lecturer_EEE_BUBT