COUPLED OSCILLATIONS

Pushing Back and Forth: Coupled Oscillators | FOS Media Students' Blog (cmb.ac.lk)
COUPLED OSCILLATIONS
k k
m m
Each individual system
(oscillator) executes SHM.
INDEPENDENT
Oscillators get coupled.
k k Motion of one mass affects
m k0 m
the other.
Chaotic motion of individual
COUPLED oscillators as well as of the
combined system.
 COUPLED OSCILLATIONS
k k
m k0 m

COUPLED

CHAOTIC MOTION: Can it be resolved into two

(or more) simple, but mutually independent
components (oscillations, modes)? Like vectors?

Need to analyse it mathematically.

vectors - Google Search
The displacements

k k
m k0 m

( ) ( )
k k
k0

+ + +

= = =
The forces (consider stretched condition)

k k
m k0 m

k k
k0

In non-equilibrium, the amounts of forces will change, but the directions of

the forces will not change.
The force equations
= +
= +
+ + =0
……(1)

= +
=
+ + =0
……(2)

(1) and (2): a coupled system of linear second order differential equations
The force equations: an alternative way
Then,

Force on the 1st mass = =

= +
+ + = 0 ……(1)

1 1 1 Force on the 2nd mass = =

= + +
2 2 2
=
1 1 1
= + + + + = 0 ……(2)
2 2 2

(1) and (2): a coupled system of linear second order differential equations
 Solving the force equations
(1) + (2) + + + =0 ……(3)
- a differential equation exclusively in a single variable + 2
(1) - (2) + +2 = 0 ……(4)
- a differential equation exclusively in another single variable 2

Then, (3) + =0 = cos + - Mode 1

and (4) + +2 =0 = cos + - Mode 2
SLOW FAST

+
+2 = =
= = 2 2
- a linear combination - a linear combination
Solving the force equations
+ + = 0 ……(1)
+ + = 0 ……(2)

Method 2: The MATRIX method

Assume = and = - same frequency to start with.
- Find , and roots of .
Putting in (1) and (2):
+ + =0
+ + +( ) = 0 …….(5)
and
+ + =0
( ) + + + = 0 …….(6)
 Solving the force equations
+ + +( ) = 0 …….(5)
( ) + + + = 0 …….(6)
Write in the matrix form
+ + 0
=
+ + 0
The solution exist only when the determinant of the coefficient matrix vanishes.
+ + = + + =±

+2
= , and =

Putting in the matrix, we get = , i. e., in-phase oscillations (mode 1).

Putting in the matrix, we get = , i. e., out-of-phase oscillations (mode 2).
Solving the force equations
Normal mode frequencies/
+2 Characteristic frequencies/
= , and = Eigenfrequencies/
Frequency eigenvalues
In-phase mode Out-of-phase mode
= =

Eigenvectors

1
Eigenvector of in-phase mode = (normalized)
1
1
Eigenvector of out-of-phase mode = (normalized)
1
 Solving the force equations
• The differential equations are linear, so
INNER PRODUCTS
any linear combination of the two
1 normal mode solutions is also a solution.
, = 1 1. =1 •
1
is normalized. • In fact, the most general solution of the
equations is an arbitrary linear
1 combination of the two normal modes.
, = 1 1. =1
1
is normalized.
1
, = 1 1. =0
1
and are orthogonal.

This is the reason the two modes and

are called ‘NORMAL’ modes.
Detailed solutions for different cases
Remember

= cos +
= cos +

+ 1
= = cos + + cos +
2 2
1
= = cos + cos +
2 2
 Detailed solutions for different cases
1
= cos + + cos +
2
1
= cos + cos +
2
Case 1: Both the masses are displaced to one side by the same amount and released
0 = 0 = (say)…..(7) ,
0 = 0 = 0 …..(8),
and = = 0 … … (9)
(7, 9) = + ……(10) and
= …….(11)
(10)+(11) = 2 ………(11)
(10)-(11) cos = 0………(12)
Then, = cos =
 Detailed solution: Case 1
= cos = =
NORMAL MODE 1

Oscillations of center of mass at frequency .

CENTRE OF MASS MODE (SYMMETRIC MODE)

 Detailed solutions for different cases
1
= cos + + cos +
2
1
= cos + cos +
2
Case 2: The masses are displaced to either side by the same amount and released

0 = 0 = …..(7’),
0 = 0 = 0 ……(8’),
and = = 0 ……( )

= = cos NORMAL MODE 2

+2
=
 +2
=
= = cos NORMAL MODE 2

1
= +2
2

Center of mass remains fixed.

BREATHING MODE (ASYMMETRIC MODE)

 Detailed solutions for different cases
1
= cos + + cos +
2
1
= cos + cos +
2
Case 3: Pull one mass either left or right and other at zero displacement and release
0 = 0; 0 = …….(7”),
0 = 0 = 0 …..(8”),
and = = 0 ……( )
(7”) cos = cos = and

= =

= cos + cos ; = cos cos

2 2
Verify yourself.
 Detailed solution: Case 3
= cos + cos ; = cos cos
2 2

+ - Beats
= cos . cos
2 2
+
= sin . sin - Beats
2 2
Consider weak coupling:

+2
= = 1+2 ; + 2
(Taylor’s expansion)

= cos . cos
2 Resonance
= sin . sin
2
 Detailed solution: Case 3 (RESONANCE)
= cos . cos = sin . sin
2 2
( )
( )

File:Coupled oscillators.gif - Wikipedia

 )
Coupled Oscillations: A symbolic view
(in units of cos
, +2
= , and =

/2 ,
MAY BE SKIPPED

,
,
/2 (in units of cos )

/2
, Centre of mass Mode
Breathing Mode
,
Resonance
3-Coupled Oscillators
=
=
=

Assume
=
=
=
3-Coupled Oscillators
The Matrix Equation:
0 0
2 = 0
0 0

Three Eigenfrequencies
+
=

1
± = +3 ± +3
3-Coupled Oscillators

VECTORS
N-coupled Oscillators
N Eigenfrequencies (N Modes)

N
Waves