QNHS-SHS / Q2WK3 – GENERAL PHYSICS 1 – GRADE 12 STEM

MELC’s:
-Relate the amplitude, frequency, angular frequency, period, displacement, velocity, and acceleration of oscillating
systems
-Recognize the necessary conditions for an object to undergo simple harmonic motion
-Calculate the period and the frequency of spring mass, simple pendulum, and physical pendulum

What’s In
A defining characteristic of all waves is superposition, which describes the behaviour of overlapping waves.
The superposition principle states that when two or more waves overlap in space, the resultant disturbance is equal to the
algebraic sum of the individual disturbances. With superposition, the wave function of the resulting interference is just
the sum of the individual wave functions.

What’s New
Describe a travelling wave in a string. Then describe the kind of wave that happens on a guitar string. Show this
either by using a guitar or just the image below. Ask the class if they could spot the differences between the two. Since
the guitar string is fixed at both ends, can the wave travel? If not then, how is it instead? It is standing.

What is It
Standing Waves on a String
For standing waves to occur, a wave must interfere with another wave of equal amplitude but opposite in
direction of propagation. the simplest example of how this condition is satisfied: a string fixed at one end and wiggled at
the other end. Incident waves will travel toward the fixed end. These waves will reflect from the fixed end. The
interference of the incident and the reflected waves form a standing wave.
The wave function corresponding to the incident and reflected waves:

The negative sign comes from the fact that waves invert when they reflect from a fixed end. The wave function of
the resulting interference by principle of superposition is given below using a trigonometric identity.

This can be interpreted as a sine function in position with an amplitude that oscillates in time.

Nodes are points in the standing wave that do not move and antinodes are points in the standing wave that
moves the greatest. The positions of the nodes by setting y(x,t) = 2A sin ωt sin kx = 0 and solving for x:

From the above equation, it follows that consecutive nodes are half a wavelength apart. This shows that fixed
ends must be nodes, which restrict the possible wavelengths that can occur on a string fixed at both its ends. Suppose
you hold one end of a slinky fixed on one end or is held by someone, holding the other end and wiggling it to form the first,
second, and third normal modes. You need to do a faster wiggle, and therefore make a larger frequency, to get higher
frequencies. You can also let the student wiggle his end while your end stays in place.
For the first situation to occur, ; for the second situation to occur, , and so on, which, in general,

leads to the expression below:

Solve for λ to get the wavelength of the normal modes:

Using the relation derive the expression for the frequency of the normal mode:

Define the n = 1 frequency as the fundamental frequency, the n = 2 frequency as the second harmonic, the n = 3
frequency as the third harmonic, and so on.

Click this link for demonstration: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/stawav.html#c1

Standing waves are produced on a string when equal waves travel in opposite directions. When the proper
conditions are met, the interference between the traveling waves causes the string to move up and down in segments, as
illustrated below. This segment vibration gives no appearance of motion along the length of the string. The phenomenon
is called a standing wave or stationary wave and corresponds to a resonant vibration of the string.

If a light, flexible string is attached to a vibrator and the other end passed over a fixed pulley to a weight hanger,
the necessary conditions for standing waves can be met. Waves from the vibrator travel down the string and are reflected
at the pulley. When the tension and length of the string are properly adjusted, these two oppositely directed wave trains
superimpose to give alternate regions of no vibration, N (see figure) and regions of maximum vibration, A. These regions
N and A are called nodes and antinodes, respectively, and the segment between two nodes is called a loop. The velocity,
v, of a wave on a stretched string is given by:

(1
)

where T is the stretching force (tension) and m is the mass per unit length of the string. If the general wave equation:
(2)
is combined with the above equation, the frequency of the vibrator is given by the relation:

(3)

where λ is the wavelength of the wave. Examination of the figure, in which the full line represents the original wave train
and the dashed line the reflected wave train, will show that the distance between two nodes is one half wavelength. In this
experiment, you will be given the frequency f = 60Hz and can then determine the quantity T/f 2λ2. The mass per unit length
m of the string is to be calculated from:

(4
)

What I Have Learned

1. The A-string of a guitar has a fundamental frequency of 110 Hz. Which of the following is NOT a frequency of a
normal mode of the string? Prove and show your answer with all these options.
a. 110 Hz b. 930 Hz c. 1210 Hz d. 1430 Hz

2. If the wavelength of the third normal mode is 45 cm, what is the length of the string?

What I can do
Given a specific length of a string, 100cm, identify the wavelengths of the fourth and fifth normal mode (n = 4,5).
100 m
Given a specific wave speed v= ,identify the fourth harmonic.
s
References:
*Conceptual Physics by Paul Hewitt
*College Physics by Weber et.al
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Class/PhSciLab/string2.html#:~:text=Standing%20waves%20are
%20produced%20on,in%20segments%2C%20as%20illustrated%20below.

https://www.britannica.com/science/light/Characteristics-of-waves#ref582132

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/stawav.html#c1
QNHS-SHS / Q2WK4 – GENERAL PHYSICS 1 – GRADE 12 STEM
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES
-Differentiate underdamped, overdamped, and critically damped
motion
-Define mechanical wave, longitudinal wave, transverse wave,
periodic wave, and sinusoidal wave
-From a given sinusoidal wave function infer the speed, wavelength,
frequency, period, direction, and wave number

Damped Harmonic Motion

A guitar string stops oscillating a few seconds after being
plucked. To keep a child happy on a swing, you must keep pushing.
Although we can often make friction and other non-conservative
forces negligibly small, completely undamped motion is rare. In fact, we
may even want to damp oscillations, such as with car shock
absorbers.

For a system that has a small amount of damping, the period

and frequency are nearly the same as for simple harmonic motion, but
the amplitude gradually decreases as shown in Figure 2. This occurs
because the non-conservative damping force removes energy from the system, usually in the form of thermal energy. In
general, energy removal by non-conservative forces is described as Wnc = Δ(KE + PE), where Wnc is work done by a non-
conservative force (here the damping force). For a damped harmonic oscillator, Wnc is negative because it removes
mechanical energy (KE + PE) from the system.

Figure 2. In this graph of displacement versus time for a harmonic oscillator with a small amount of damping, the
amplitude slowly decreases, but the period and frequency are nearly the same as if the system were completely
undamped.

If you gradually increase the amount of damping in a system, the period and frequency begin to be affected,
because damping opposes and hence slows the back and forth motion. (The net force is smaller in both directions.) If
there is very large damping, the system does not even oscillate—it slowly moves toward equilibrium. Figure 3 shows the
displacement of a harmonic oscillator for different amounts of damping. When we want to damp out oscillations, such as
in the suspension of a car, we may want the system to return to equilibrium as quickly as possible.

Critical damping is defined as the condition in which the damping

of an oscillator results in it returning as quickly as possible to its equilibrium
position. The critically damped system may overshoot the equilibrium
position, but if it does, it will do so only once. Critical damping is represented
by Curve A in Figure 3. With less-than critical damping, the system will
return to equilibrium faster but will overshoot and cross over one or more
times. Such a system is underdamped; its displacement is represented by
the curve in Figure 2. Curve B in Figure 3 represents
an overdamped system. As with critical damping, it too may overshoot the
equilibrium position, but will reach equilibrium over a longer period of time.

Figure 3. Displacement versus time for a critically damped harmonic oscillator (A) and an overdamped harmonic oscillator
(B). The critically damped oscillator returns to equilibrium at X = 0 in the smallest time possible without overshooting.
 Critical damping is often desired, because such a system returns to equilibrium rapidly and remains at equilibrium
as well. In addition, a constant force applied to a critically damped system moves the system to a new equilibrium position
in the shortest time possible without overshooting or oscillating about the new position. For example, when you stand on
bathroom scales that have a needle gauge, the needle moves to its equilibrium position without oscillating. It would be
quite inconvenient if the needle oscillated about the new equilibrium position for a long time before settling. Damping
forces can vary greatly in character. Friction, for example, is sometimes independent of velocity (as assumed in most
places in this text). But many damping forces depend on velocity—sometimes in complex ways, sometimes simply being
proportional to velocity.

EXAMPLE 1. DAMPING AN OSCILLATORY MOTION: FRICTION ON AN OBJECT CONNECTED TO A SPRING

Damping oscillatory motion is important in many systems, and the ability to control the damping is even more so.
This is generally attained using non-conservative forces such as the friction between surfaces, and viscosity for objects
moving through fluids. The following example considers friction. Suppose a 0.200-kg object is connected to a spring as
shown in Figure 4, but there is simple friction between the object and the surface, and the coefficient of friction μk is equal
to 0.0800.
What is the frictional force between the surfaces?
What total distance does the object travel if it is released 0.100 m from equilibrium, starting at v = 0? The force
constant of the spring is k = 50.0 N/m.

Figure 4. The transformation of energy in simple harmonic motion is illustrated for an object
attached to a spring on a frictionless surface.

This problem requires you to integrate your knowledge of various concepts regarding waves, oscillations, and
damping. To solve an integrated concept problem, you must first identify the physical principles involved. Part 1 is about
the frictional force. This is a topic involving the application of Newton’s Laws. Part 2 requires an understanding of work
and conservation of energy, as well as some understanding of horizontal oscillatory systems.

Now that we have identified the principles we must apply in order to solve the problems, we need to identify the
knowns and unknowns for each part of the question, as well as the quantity that is constant in Part 1 and Part 2 of the
question.

Solution to Part 1
Choose the proper equation: Friction is f = μkmg. Identify the known values.
Enter the known values into the equation: f = (0.0800) (0 .200 kg) (9 .80 m/s 2 ).
Calculate and convert units: f = 0.157 N.

Discussion for Part 1

The force here is small because the system and the coefficients are small.

Solution to Part 2
 Identify the knowns:

The system involves elastic potential energy as the spring compresses and expands, friction that is related to the
work done, and the kinetic energy as the body speeds up and slows down.

Energy is not conserved as the mass oscillates because friction is a non-conservative force.

The motion is horizontal, so gravitational potential energy does not need to be considered.

1 2
Because the motion starts from rest, the energy in the system is initially PEel , i= k X . This energy is removed
2
by work done by friction Wnc = −fd, where d is the total distance traveled and f = μkmg is the force of friction. When the
1 2
system stops moving, the friction force will balance the force exerted by the spring, so PE el , f = k x where x is the final
2
position and is given by
μk mg
F el=f ; kx =μ k mg ; x=
k
1. By equating the work done to the energy removed, solve for the distance d.
2. The work done by the non-conservative forces equals the initial, stored elastic potential energy. Identify the
correct equation to use:
1
W nc =∆ ( KE+ PE )=PEel , f −PE el ,i= k ¿
2
3. Recall that Wnc = −fd.
4. Enter the friction as f = μkmg into Wnc = −fd, thus Wnc = −μkmgd.
5. Combine these two equations to find
1
k¿
2
6. Solve the equation for d:
k
d= ¿
2 μ k mg
7. Enter the known values into the resulting equation:
50.0 N /m
d= ¿
2(0.0800)(0.200 kg)(9.80 m/s 2)

8. Calculate d and convert units d = 1.59 m.

Discussion for Part 2

This is the total distance traveled back and forth across x = 0, which is the undamped equilibrium position. The
number of oscillations about the equilibrium position will be more than
d 1.59 m
= =¿15.9
X 0.100 m
because the amplitude of the oscillations is decreasing with time. At the end of the motion, this system will not return
to x = 0 for this type of damping force, because static friction will exceed the restoring force. This system is underdamped.
In contrast, an overdamped system with a simple constant damping force would not cross the equilibrium position x = 0 a
single time. For example, if this system had a damping force 20 times greater, it would only move 0.0484 m toward the
equilibrium position from its original 0.100-m position.
This worked example illustrates how to apply problem-solving strategies to situations that integrate the different
concepts you have learned. The first step is to identify the physical principles involved in the problem. The second step is
to solve for the unknowns using familiar problem-solving strategies. These are found throughout the text, and many
worked examples show how to use them for single topics. In this integrated concepts example, you can see how to apply
them across several topics. You will find these techniques useful in applications of physics outside a physics course, such
as in your profession, in other science disciplines, and in everyday life.

What I Have Learned

Part 1
Why are completely undamped harmonic oscillators so rare?
Solution
 Friction often comes into play whenever an object is moving. Friction causes damping in a harmonic oscillator.

Part 2
Describe the difference between overdamping, underdamping, and critical damping.

Solution
An overdamped system moves slowly toward equilibrium. An underdamped system moves quickly to equilibrium,
but will oscillate about the equilibrium point as it does so. A critically damped system moves as quickly as possible toward
equilibrium without oscillating about the equilibrium.

Damped harmonic oscillators have non-conservative forces that dissipate their energy.
Critical damping returns the system to equilibrium as fast as possible without overshooting.
An underdamped system will oscillate through the equilibrium position.
An overdamped system moves more slowly toward equilibrium than one that is critically damped.

NAME: _______________________________________________GRADE 12 – STEM (____) SCORE: __________

QUARTER 2 – Week 4 - SITUATION/PROBLEM SET NO. 2

I. Directions: Answer each question briefly & with the most appropriate response. Please work
independently, copying is never allowed.
1. Give an example of a damped harmonic oscillator. (They are more common than undamped or simple
harmonic oscillators.)
2. How would a car bounce after a bump under each of these conditions? (a) overdamping; (b) underdamping;
(c) critical damping.
2. Most harmonic oscillators are damped and, if undriven, eventually come to a stop. How is this observation
related to the second law of thermodynamics?

II. PROBLEM SOLVING: Write the given, required, formula, and the solution to each problem, then box your final
answer in ball pen.
The amplitude of a lightly damped oscillator decreases by 3.0% during each cycle. What percentage of the
mechanical energy of the oscillator is lost in each cycle?

Glossary
critical damping: the condition in which the damping of an oscillator causes it to return as quickly as possible to
its equilibrium position without oscillating back and forth about this position
over damping: the condition in which damping of an oscillator causes it to return to equilibrium without
oscillating; oscillator moves more slowly toward equilibrium than in the critically damped system
under damping: the condition in which damping of an oscillator causes it to return to equilibrium with the
amplitude gradually decreasing to zero; system returns to equilibrium faster but overshoots and crosses the equilibrium
position one or more times

Waves come in many shapes and forms. While all waves share some basic characteristic properties and
behaviors, some waves can be distinguished from others based on some observable (and some non-observable)
characteristics. It is common to categorize waves based on these distinguishing characteristics.

Longitudinal versus Transverse Waves versus Surface Waves

One way to categorize waves is on the basis of the direction of movement of the individual particles of the
medium relative to the direction that the waves travel. Categorizing waves on this basis leads to three notable categories:
transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves.
A transverse wave is a wave in which particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction
that the wave moves. Suppose that a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the classroom and that a pulse
is introduced into the slinky on the left end by vibrating the first coil up and down. Energy will begin to be transported
through the slinky from left to right. As the energy is transported from left to right, the individual coils of the medium will be
displaced upwards and downwards. In this case, the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction that the
pulse moves. This type of wave is a transverse wave. Transverse waves are always characterized by particle motion
being perpendicular to wave motion.
 A longitudinal wave is a wave in which particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the direction that
the wave moves. Suppose that a slinky is stretched out in a horizontal direction across the classroom and that a pulse is
introduced into the slinky on the left end by vibrating the first coil left and right. Energy will begin to be transported through
the slinky from left to right. As the energy is transported from left to right, the individual coils of the medium will be
displaced leftwards and rightwards. In this case, the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction that the pulse
moves. This type of wave is a longitudinal wave. Longitudinal waves are always characterized by particle motion
being parallel to wave motion.

A sound wave traveling through air is a classic example of a longitudinal wave. As a sound wave moves from the
lips of a speaker to the ear of a listener, particles of air vibrate back and forth in the same direction and the opposite
direction of energy transport. Each individual particle pushes on its neighboring particle so as to push it forward.
The collision of particle #1 with its neighbor serves to restore particle #1 to its original position and displace particle #2 in a
forward direction. This back and forth motion of particles in the direction of energy transport creates regions within the
medium where the particles are pressed together and other regions where the particles are spread apart. Longitudinal
waves can always be quickly identified by the presence of such regions. This process continues along the chain of
particles until the sound wave reaches the ear of the listener. A detailed discussion of sound is presented in another unit
of The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

Waves traveling through a solid medium can be either transverse waves or longitudinal waves. Yet waves
traveling through the bulk of a fluid (such as a liquid or a gas) are always longitudinal waves. Transverse waves require a
relatively rigid medium in order to transmit their energy. As one particle begins to move it must be able to exert a pull on
its nearest neighbor. If the medium is not rigid as is the case with fluids, the particles will slide past each other. This sliding
action that is characteristic of liquids and gases prevents one particle from displacing its neighbor in a direction
perpendicular to the energy transport. It is for this reason that only longitudinal waves are observed moving through the
bulk of liquids such as our oceans. Earthquakes are capable of producing both transverse and longitudinal waves that
travel through the solid structures of the Earth. When seismologists began to study earthquake waves they noticed that
only longitudinal waves were capable of traveling through the core of the Earth. For this reason, geologists believe that
the Earth's core consists of a liquid - most likely molten iron.

While waves that travel within the depths of the ocean are longitudinal waves, the waves that travel along the
surface of the oceans are referred to as surface waves. A surface wave is a wave in which particles of the medium
undergo a circular motion. Surface waves are neither longitudinal nor transverse. In longitudinal and transverse waves, all
the particles in the entire bulk of the medium move in a parallel and a perpendicular direction (respectively) relative to the
direction of energy transport. In a surface wave, it is only the particles at the surface of the medium that undergo the
circular motion. The motion of particles tends to decrease as one proceeds further from the surface.
 Any wave moving through a medium has a source. Somewhere along the medium, there was an initial
displacement of one of the particles. For a slinky wave, it is usually the first coil that becomes displaced by the hand of a
person. For a sound wave, it is usually the vibration of the vocal chords or a guitar string that sets the first particle of air in
vibrational motion. At the location where the wave is introduced into the medium, the particles that are displaced from their
equilibrium position always moves in the same direction as the source of the vibration. So if you wish to create a
transverse wave in a slinky, then the first coil of the slinky must be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the entire
slinky. Similarly, if you wish to create a longitudinal wave in a slinky, then the first coil of the slinky must be displaced in a
direction parallel to the entire slinky.

Assessment
1. A transverse wave is transporting energy from west to east. The particles of the medium will move_____.
a. west to east only c. north to south only
b. both eastward and westward d. both northward and southward
2. A wave is transporting energy from right to left. The particles of the medium are moving back and forth in a leftward and
rightward direction. This type of wave is known as a ____.
a. mechanical b. electromagnetic c. transverse d. longitudinal
3. A sound wave is a mechanical wave, not an electromagnetic wave. This means that
a. particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of energy transport.
b. a sound wave transports its energy through a vacuum.
c. particles of the medium regularly and repeatedly oscillate about their rest position.
d. a medium is required in order for sound waves to transport energy.

4. If you strike a horizontal rod vertically from above, what can be said about the waves created in the rod?
a. The particles vibrate horizontally along the direction of the rod.
b. The particles vibrate vertically, perpendicular to the direction of the rod.
c. The particles vibrate in circles, perpendicular to the direction of the rod.
d. The particles travel along the rod from the point of impact to its end.
5. Which of the following is not a characteristic of mechanical waves?
a. They consist of disturbances or oscillations of a medium.
b. They transport energy.
c. They travel in a direction that is at right angles to the direction of the particles of the medium.
d. They are created by a vibrating source.

6. Describe how the fans in a stadium must move in order to produce a longitudinal stadium wave.

7. A science fiction film depicts inhabitants of one spaceship (in outer space) hearing the sound of a nearby spaceship as
it zooms past at high speeds. Critique the physics of this film.

8. The sonar device on a fishing boat uses underwater sound to locate fish. Would you expect sonar to be a longitudinal
or a transverse wave?

References:

*Conceptual Physics by Paul Hewitt

*College Physics by Weber et.al
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/16-7-damped-harmonic-motion/#:~:text=and%20critical
%20damping.-,Solution,without%20oscillating%20about%20the%20equilibrium.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-1/Categories-of-Waves