Oscillations

Simple Harmonic Motion

Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
Applications of Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple Pendulum
Physical Pendulum

http://mw.concord.org/modeler1.3/mirror/mechanics/pendulum.gif
Oscillation (or Periodic Motion)
Repetitive motion
Displacement from an equilibrium position
Due to a restoring force
Example: Spring-Mass System
When perturbed from equilibrium
Force due to spring pulls it back to equilibrium

en.wikipedia.org
Definition of terms
Amplitude
Max displacement along the
oscillation direction
Max distance from equilibrium
position

xmax = A
Cycle
One complete repetition
Roundtrip motion (4A distance)
2A

xcycle = 4 A
en.wikipedia.org
Definition of terms
Period
Time spent for one complete cycle
SI Unit: second

tcycle = T
Frequency
No. of cycles per unit time
Inverse of period
SI unit: 1/s or hertz
1
f= 2A
T
Angular frequency
No. of rotations per unit time
SI unit: rad/s ω = 2π f en.wikipedia.org
Relating Periodic and Circular motion
a Cycle is a projection of circular motion

For one complete cycle

Blue: periodic distance is 4A

Red: arc length distance 2πA
The Radius is equal
Total time needed per cycle is T
to the Amplitude
Speed is v = 2πA/T R=A
Periodic and circular motion
a Cycle is a projection of circular motion

Angular speed:

v 2π
ω= =
A T
ω = 2π f The Radius is equal
to the Amplitude
R=A
SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
For a spring undergoing SHM
The Hookean region of restoring force
i.e. force varies LINEARLY with displacement

HOOKE’s LAW
F = kx
Negative sign indicates that it counteracts displacement

k Is spring or force constant

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
Object undergoing SHM called Harmonic Oscillator

Ideal case Real case; middle region

approximately SHM

Hookean region is the linear region. Hooke’s

law breaks beyond the linear region of the
Force versus displacement plot
Equations of SHM
Force is mass times acceleration (2nd Law),

F = −kx = ma x
k
a x = − x Acceleration due to restoring
force always opposite the
m displacement.
Equations of SHM
We can also derive relations using circular motion,

Radial (centripetal) acceleration

x
v Aω
2 2 2
a rad = = = Aω 2

arad A A
θ
Linear acceleration
ax
a x = −arad cos θ
Negative sign indicates inward direction
Equations of SHM
We can also derive relations using circular motion,

Radial (centripetal) acceleration

x
v Aω
2 2 2
a rad = = = Aω 2

arad A A
θ
Linear acceleration
ax
a x = − Aω cosθ 2

Negative sign indicates inward direction

Equations of SHM
We can also derive relations using circular motion,

The horizontal displacement x

x
of the amplitude A is

x = Acosθ
arad
Thus, Linear acceleration
θ
ax a x = −ω x 2
Equations of SHM
Comparing the derived relationships,
k
ax = − x a x = −ω x 2

k
ω =
2
Massive objects cause less
m frequent oscillation. Hard to
move heavier objects.

Holds only for SHM where F = -kx

Equations of SHM
Comparing the derived relationships,
k
ax = − x a x = −ω x 2

m
r r
1 k m
f= T = 2⇡
2⇡ m k
T and f independent of A 2⇡A
Longer A: Faster motion (same period) v=
Shorter A: Slower motion (same period) T
Motion in SHM
Set x = 0 to be the equilibrium location
When string is un stretched/uncompressed
Motion in SHM is bound between x = [-A, A]
Repeats every period

2A

x
-A 0 A
Motion in SHM
At the turning points (x = -A and x = A),
Velocity is temporarily zero (UE is max, K is zero)
At the equilibrium locations (where x = 0),
Speed is maximum (UE is zero, K is max)

2A

x
-A 0 A
Motion in SHM
At the turning points (x = -A and x = A),
Velocity is temporarily zero (UE is max, K is zero)
At the equilibrium locations (where x = 0),
Speed is maximum (UE is zero, K is max)

displacement versus time

Phase angle
What if the particle did not start at θ = 0 or x = A?
Say, it started at θ = φ.
x
At time t = 0,

At some other time, it has moved, A

θ=φ

φ is called the phase angle.

Note: All angles in radians.
Effect of different Phase angle
Example: For a harmonic oscillator (SHM) with
A = 1.00 m, f = 1.00 Hz, Varying phase constant φ
Displacement vs. Time

Plots start at different times due to phase angle

Displacement, velocity and acceleration
Displacement (x) of the object (attached to spring) is:

x = Acos (ω t + ϕ )
As time progresses, x varies showing cosine behavior

displacement versus time

Displacement, velocity and acceleration
Displacement (x) of the object (attached to spring) is:

x = Acos (ω t + ϕ )
As time progresses, x varies showing cosine behavior

2A
xmax = A
x
xmin = − A -A 0 A
Displacement, velocity and acceleration
Velocity (v) of the object (attached to spring) is:

v = −ω Asin (ω t + ϕ )
Get the derivative of the displacement (x)

2A
vmax = ω A
vmin = −ω A x
-A 0 A
Displacement, velocity and acceleration
Acceleration (a) of the object (attached to spring) is:

a = −ω Acos (ω t + ϕ )
2

Get the derivative of the velocity (v)

2A
amax = ω A 2

x
amin = −ω A 2
-A 0 A
Displacement (x) when Varying Amplitude

Frequency and period are independent of

amplitude (SHM) 25
Displacement (x) when Varying Mass

Increasing m means increasing

period (longer time) 26
Displacement (x) when Varying Spring constant

Increasing k means decreasing

period (shorter time) 27
Energy in SHM

x
-A 0 A
2A
xmax = A
1 2
Etotal = kA
2
Energy in SHM
Total mechanical energy is CONSTANT (without
friction) AT ALL TIMES and is equal to max UE

1 2
E1,total = E2,total = kA
2
E1, total = energy at position 1
2A E2, total = energy at position 2

x
-A 0 A
Energy in SHM
Total mechanical energy is CONSTANT (without
friction) AT ALL TIMES and is equal to max UE

1 2
U E1 + K1 = U E2 + K2 = kA
2
2A

x
-A 0 A
Energy in SHM
Total mechanical energy is CONSTANT (without
friction) AT ALL TIMES and is equal to max UE

1 2
U E + K = kA
2
At the turning points (x = A or x = -A)
Maximum potential energy

At the equilibrium position (x = 0)

Maximum kinetic energy
Energy in SHM
Due to conservative nature of restoring force

Total mechanical energy remains

constant
Solving problems involving SHM
If time is given, use the kinematical relations

where
Solving problems involving SHM
Remember that total mechanical energy is

Emech will be the sum of U and K.

Emech is conserved, i.e.
1 2 1 2
Emech = kA = mvmax
2 2
If K = 0 If U = 0
Solving problems involving SHM
Remember that total mechanical energy is

At turning points, purely potential

At equilibrium position, purely kinetic
Sample problem: SHM
A cube (mass = 0.500 kg) attached to a light spring (k =
450 N/m) oscillates with amplitude 0.0100 m. If the initial
location of the mass is 0.5 cm to the right of the
equilibrium position, write down the equation for the
position x as a function of time t, x(t).

𝒙 = 𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝎𝒕 + 𝝋)

𝒙𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 = 𝑨 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝋)
Sample problem: SHM
A cube (mass = 0.500 kg) attached to a light spring (k =
450 N/m) oscillates with amplitude 0.0100 m. If the initial
location of the mass is 0.5 cm to the right of the
equilibrium position, write down the equation for the
position x as a function of time t, x(t).
Sample problem: SHM
A cube (mass = 0.500 kg) attached to a light spring (k =
450 N/m) oscillates with amplitude 0.0100 m. If the initial
location of the mass is 0.5 cm to the right of the
equilibrium position, write down the equation for the
position x as a function of time t, x(t).

k rad
ω= = 30
m s

⎛ rad ⎞
x(t) = (0.0100m)cos 30 t + 1.05rad
⎝ s ⎠
Quiz: Velocity
The velocity of a harmonic oscillator at any given instant of time
is described by
⎛ rad ⎞
v(t) = −(6.00m/s)sin 12 t + 1.37rad
⎝ s ⎠
Give the following quantities:
Initial velocity v(t=0)
Angular frequency ω
Amplitude A
Period T
Frequency f
Phase angle φ
Equation for x(t)
Initial position x(0)
Equation for a(t)
Initial acceleration a(0)
Quiz: Velocity
The velocity of a harmonic oscillator at any given instant of time
is described by
⎛ rad ⎞
v(t) = −(6.00m/s)sin 12 t + 1.37rad
⎝ s ⎠
Give the following quantities:
Initial velocity v(0) v(0) = -5.88 m/s
Angular frequency ω ω = 12 s-1
Amplitude A A = 0.5 m
Period T T = 0.524 s
Frequency f f = 1.91 s
Phase angle φ φ= 1.37 s
Equation for x(t)
Initial position x(0) x(0) = 0.1 m
Equation for a(t)
Initial acceleration a(0) a(0) = -14.4 m/s2
Applications of SHM
Mass-Spring System
Simple Pendulum (small angles of oscillation)
Physical Pendulum (small angles of oscillation)
 VERTICAL SPRING-MASS SYSTEM

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Vertical Spring-Mass System
Weight now part of the forces!
The restoring force is balanced by the
the weight of the mass

Fnet = kΔl − mg = 0
Δl Change in length due to Stretching due to weight

mg Hanging weight

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Vertical Spring-Mass System
We use the Same set of equations!

k
ω =
2

m
r r
1 k m
f= T = 2⇡
2⇡ m k
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Vertical SHM in an old car
The shock absorbers in an old car with mass 1000 kg are
completely worn out. When a 980-N person climbs slowly
into the car to its center of gravity, the car sinks 2. cm.
When the car, with the person aboard, hits a bump, the
car starts oscillating up and down in SHM. Model the car
and person as a single body on a single spring, and find
the period and frequency of oscillation.

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 SIMPLE PENDULUM

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Simple Pendulum
Small object suspended from a massless string
Oscillates from a point of suspension above
Forces acting on an object
Weight
Tension

Equilibrium Position
When the string is vertical

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Simple Pendulum
Free-Body Diagram:

Fnet ,x = −mg sin θ = m ax The radius is the

length of the string

Fnet ,y = T − mg cos θ = 0 R=L

The object does not move along the string, ay =0

Displacement is ARC LENGTH x

x = Lθ
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Simple Pendulum (Small angles of oscillation)
For small angles, sin θ = θ

Fnet ,x = −mgθ = m ax The radius is the

length of the string
R=L
We then get

g
− x = ax
L
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Simple Pendulum (Small angles of oscillation)
Comparing equations:
g
ax = − x a x = −ω x
2
The radius is the
L length of the string
R=L
We then get

g
ω =
2

L
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Simple Pendulum (Small angles of oscillation)

g
ω =
2
The radius is the
length of the string

L R=L

1 g L
f = T = 2π
2π L g
Longer string means longer time to make one cycle

12/2/22 51
Problems on Simple Pendulum
Find the period and frequency of a simple
pendulum 1.000 m long at a location where
g=9.800 m/s2.
Deposits of ore or oil affect the local value of g
because their density differs from that of their
surroundings. Suppose a 1.000-m simple
pendulum has a period exactly 2.000 s at a certain
location. What is the local value of g?

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 PHYSICAL PENDULUM

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The Physical Pendulum
For any real pendulum, the The lever arm is
object can possibly rotate R=L
due to its weight as it
swings back and forth

τ = − ( mg sinθ ) ( d )
Force Lever arm

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The Physical Pendulum
For any real pendulum, the The lever arm is
object can possibly rotate R=L
due to its weight as it
swings back and forth

τ = − ( mgθ ) ( d )
Force Lever arm

For small angles, sin θ = θ

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The Physical Pendulum
Using Rotational Newton’s The lever arm is
2nd Law R=L

τ = −mgdθ = Iα
mgd
α =− θ
I
α is Angular Acceleration
I is moment of Inertia

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The Physical Pendulum
Using Rotational Newton’s The lever arm is
2nd Law R=L

ax mgd ⎛ x ⎞
=− ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠
d I d
Recall that

x = dθ Arc length

ax = d α Tangential acceleration

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The Physical Pendulum
Comparing equations:
The lever arm is
mgd R=L
ax = − x ax = −ω x
2

I
We then get

mgd
ω =
2

I
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The Physical Pendulum

k mgd
ω = = 2

m I
1 mgd I
f= T = 2π
2π I mgd
I= moment of inertia about point O
d = distance of center of gravity from point O
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Easy problem on Simple Pendulum
Suppose you have a uniform rod with length L,
pivoted at one end. Find the period of its motion.
(Irod, at one end = 1/3 ML2)

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Summary: Applications of SHM
Vertical spring-mass system
k
ω =
2

m
Simple pendulum
g
ω = 2

L
Physical pendulum
mgd
ω =
2

I
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