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PHY 121 1 - Vibrations

The document discusses vibrations and oscillations. It defines key terms like amplitude, wavelength, period, and frequency. It describes different types of oscillations including damped and forced oscillations. It provides examples to illustrate concepts like simple harmonic motion and resonance.

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Christopher Ndambo
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42 views19 pages

PHY 121 1 - Vibrations

The document discusses vibrations and oscillations. It defines key terms like amplitude, wavelength, period, and frequency. It describes different types of oscillations including damped and forced oscillations. It provides examples to illustrate concepts like simple harmonic motion and resonance.

Uploaded by

Christopher Ndambo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHY 121

Introduction to
Vibrations, Waves and
Geometric Optics
by
Innocent Kadaleka Phiri
INTRODUCTION
• Class periods Venue
Monday: 13:00-14:00 GH
Tuesday: 07:00-08:00 GH
Thursday: 11:00-12:00 GH

• Consultation : After PHY121 class hours.


• Office number: No. 6 from the secretary’s Office, Physics
office block.

• Tutorial: 1 Tutorial session to be arranged.


• Continuous Assessment: 1 Test (10% contribution), 28th
March 2019, 18:30hrs.
• End of Semester: Vibrations & Waves 40%. Electricity &
Magnetism 60%
INTRODUCTION
• Class notes:
– Electronic copies of the notes and electronic books to be
provided in class.
– Write short notes in class for reference during study.
• Recommended books:
– Halliday, D., Resnick, R. And Walker, J. (2011),
“Fundamentals of Physics.” 7th Edition. Hoboken, NJ:
Wiley.
– Serway, R., A (2008), “ College Physics.” 7th Edition.
Cengage Learning
– Other College Physics books if available in the library.
Topics

1 Vibrations
2 Stroboscope
3 Waves
4 Ripple Tank
5 Reflection of Waves
6 Refraction of Waves
7 Diffraction of Waves
8 Interference of Waves
9 Standing Waves
10 Optics
1. Vibrations
VIBRATIONS
• Definition: A vibration is the to and fro movement of an object over
the same path.
• Typical examples of vibrations are motion of a pendulum, mass
suspended at the end of a spring, cantilever, etc.

Fig.1: (a) pendulum and (b) mass suspended at the end of a spring.
In part (a). force acts on the bob due to gravity, while in part (b). force
acts on the mass due to spring’s elasticity.
VIBRATIONS

• To set these masses in motion, they are slightly displaced from


equilibrium positions and then released
• In each case force on the mass is proportional to the distance of the
mass from its equilibrium i.e. Force ∝ Displacement

• SI Units: Force in Newtons (N)


Displacement in metres (m)

• In these motions, energy changes between two forms continuously.


These forms are Kinetic and Potential energy

Potential Energy <> Kinetic Energy

• Note: All energy in the two systems occurs as Potential Energy


initially
• Let us consider a mass-spring system;

• If the spring is stretched or compressed a small distance from its equilibrium


(or unstretched) position and then released, it will move up and down about
the equilibrium position. During these motions (up and down motions),
energy changes between two forms continuously: potential energy and
kinetic energy.
• In this case, the restoring force of the spring, 𝐹𝑠 , on the mass is
proportional to the distance of the mass (𝑥) from its equilibrium. Thus,
𝑭𝒔 = −𝒌𝒙
Where 𝑘 is called the spring constant.
• Because 𝑭𝒔 ∝ displacement, when the masses are released the
motion will be repeated and the object continues to oscillate back
and forth over the same path. This type of motion is known as Simple
Harmonic Motion (SHM).
• Definition: Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is when the acceleration
of a body is directly proportional to its distance from a fixed point and
is always directed towards that point.
(periodical motions over same path where net force is proportional
to displacement)
• The motions described above are periodic or cyclic.

• Definition: Periodic or Cyclic Motion is the one during which a body


continually retraces its path at equal intervals of time.

Not all periodic motions can be classified as SHM. For example, a


ball being tossed back and forth between a parent and a child is
not a SHM.!
Terms that will be used to describe vibrations and waves:
Displacement (𝑥), Amplitude (A), Wavelength (λ), Period (T) and Frequency (𝑓).

a) Displacement (𝑥) is the instantaneous (immediate / instant) value


of the distance and direction of the oscillating body from its
equilibrium position.
• Units: metre (m)
• Displacement varies with time.

equilibrium
position
Note:
1) Mass decelerates as it reaches its highest and lowest points
(max PE at A and C)
2) Mass has its highest speed as it passes through B (max KE)

• The mass therefore spends more time at the peak and


lowest points

b) Amplitude (A) is the maximum displacement of an oscillating


object relative to its equilibrium position
• In Fig.3. amplitude is b.
• Amplitude is always positive and remains constant if
vibrations do not decay.

c) Wavelength (λ) of a wave is the distance between two


consecutive points on it which are in step
• In Fig.3. wavelength is from A to A or C to C
• Units: metres (m)
d) Period (T) is the time taken for the object to undergo one
complete cycle of motion.
• In Fig.3. period is time taken to move from (i) A to A or (ii) C
to C.
• Units: second (s)

d) Frequency (f) is the number of complete vibrations per second


• Units: Hertz (Hz)
• One Hertz is one cycle per second.

1
𝑓=
𝑇
Example: The figure below shows a graph showing motion characteristics of a
spring-mass system. From the diagram compute amplitude of the system.

Solution: Let a distance between the minimum and maximum positions be Q.


Therefore,
1 1
𝐴 = 2 𝑄 = 2 0.060 𝑚 = 0.030 𝑚
OTHER TYPES OF OSCILLATIONS
(A) DAMPED OSCILLATION
• When the amplitude of motion decreases with time, the oscillation is
called a damped oscillation
• For example, amplitude in a simple pendulum decreases because
of air resistance and friction at the support (Natural damping)
• Shock absorbers in cars are used to cut out unwanted vibrations
(Artificial damping)
• The decrease in amplitude over time entails the loss of energy of
the oscillator over that specific period. It is also important to note
that, the magnitude of amplitude depends on velocity. Thus, the rate
of loss of energy depends on the velocity
• In general, for a vibrating object the frictional force is proportional to
the velocity of the body but directed opposite to it. Mathematically,
𝐹 = −𝑏𝑣
Where, 𝐹 is the frictional force, 𝑏 is the damping coefficient
and 𝑣 is the velocity
• Typically, damped oscillation is divided into three: underdamped,
critical damped and overdamped

• Underdamped Oscillation occurs when the amplitude of a vibrating


object decreases with time and the vibration ultimately stops

• Critical damped Oscillation occurs when a vibrating objects returns


rapidly (within a short of period of time) to equilibrium after it is
released and stops oscillating

• Overdamped Oscillation occurs when the vibrating object returns to


equilibrium without ever oscillating

Figure below shows characteristic plots of the underlined types of


damped vibrations or oscillation:
Fig.: Types of damped oscillations
(B) FORCED OSCILLATION

• An oscillation that results when a body is subjected to an


oscillatory external force (or driving force)
• I.e. energy is added to a vibrating system
• A typical example of a forced oscillation is vibration of a bridge
under the influence of marching group of individuals

• A well known interesting form of forced vibration is resonance

• Definition: Resonance occurs when the frequency of vibration of


a driving force is equal or close to the natural frequency of the
oscillatory body
• At resonance, there is large amplitude
EFFECTS OF RESONANCE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

➢ The tuner in a radio or television enables you to select the


programmes you are interested in. The circuit in the tuner is
adjusted until resonance is achieved, at the frequency transmitted
by a particular station selected. Hence, a strong electrical signal is
produced.

➢ The loudness of music produced by musical


instruments such as the trumpet, banjo, drum
and flute is the result of resonance in the air.
➢ The effects of resonance can also cause damage to buildings
e.g houses, bridges etc.. For example, a bridge can collapse
when the amplitude of its vibration increases as a result of
resonance.

Note: on November 7, 1940, the acclaimed Tacoma narrows bridge


collapsed due to overwhelming resonance.

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