2024 Oscillations Tutorial Suggested Solutions
2024 Oscillations Tutorial Suggested Solutions
9749 H2 PHYSICS
Self-Check Questions
S1 displacement, x – distance an object has moved from its equilibrium position in a stated
direction
amplitude, x0 – the magnitude of the maximum displacement of the object from the
equilibrium point
period, T – the length of time taken for one complete oscillation
frequency, f – number of oscillations per unit time
angular frequency, – the scalar measure of rotation rate expressed in radians per
second (rad s−1).
1 2
S2 T= =
f
S4 x = x0 sin (t )
v = x0 cos (t ) = v 0 cos (t ) , where v 0 = x0 is the maximum velocity
a = − x0 2 sin (t ) = −a0 cos (t ) , where a0 = x0 2 is the maximum acceleration
S5
2T
2T
2T
1
S6
S7 There is continual change of energy from kinetic energy Ek to potential energy Ep and
vice versa. Ek is greatest and Ep is zero as the mass passes through the equilibrium
position.
As the mass approaches the extreme points, its Ek decreases and Ep increases.
As the mass approaches the equilibrium point, its Ek increases and Ep decreases.
2
displacement
time
2T
energy
time
T 2T
S8 Damping refers to an oscillating system being affected by the presence of viscous forces.
This causes the amplitude of oscillations to decrease exponentially with time as energy
from the oscillating system is used to overcome the viscous force.
A swinging pendulum or vibrating tuning fork in air are examples of lightly damped
oscillations.
The suspension system if a car includes shock absorbers and springs. When a car goes
over a bump, the springs will be displaced from their equilibrium lengths. The viscous oil
in the shock absorbers provide damping to enable the springs to smoothly and quickly
return to their equilibrium lengths without oscillating up and down. The springs are
critically damped. This will reduce the discomfort of the passengers in the car. Without
critical damping, then body of the car will oscillate up and down after going over a bump,
which is undesirable.
(Refer to lecture notes on the car suspension system.)
S9 Forced oscillations are produced when a body is subjected to a periodic external driving
force.
S10 At steady condition, the amplitude of a forced oscillation depends upon the damping of
the system and the relative values of the driving frequency f to the natural frequency f0
of the system. Oscillations with the largest amplitude (i.e. resonance) occur when f is
approximately equal to f0.
3
RESONANCE
When damping is moderate, the amplitude at resonance decreases. The curve falls off
gradually and maximum amplitude occurs at a frequency that is lower than the natural
frequency of the body. When damping is heavy, the resonance response is flat.
Self-Practice Questions
1 In an undamped S.H.M., total energy of the oscillating system is a constant though kinetic
and potential energies are constantly being transformed from one form to the other. Since
total energy and maximum energy is constant, amplitude is also constant. Period of
oscillation is constant, hence angular frequency is also constant.
Ans: E
2 Player should aim at the regions where the moving target is moving the slowest, i.e. at the
extreme ends of the S.H.M. Target is momentarily stationary at the amplitude positions of
the oscillation.
Ans: B
4
5 (a) (i) From the graph, amplitude x0 = 0.11 m
1 1
(iii) Frequency, f = = = 0.588 0.59 s
T 1.7
2 2
(iv) Angular frequency, = = = 3.696 3.7 rad s−1
T 1.7
(b)
5
(i) Maximum positive velocity occurs at t = 0 s, 1.7 s, 3.4 s, 5.1 s.
T
7 From t = 0 to t = (a quarter through its oscillation), the speed of the mass increases
4
from zero to a maximum at the equilibrium position and acceleration/restoring force
100 − 30
decreases from a maximum to zero. The amplitude is = 35 cm .
2
T
At t = , the mass is at its maximum displacement from the equilibrium position. It is
2
momentarily at rest. So speed and kinetic energy is zero.
Ans: A
8
(b) frequency, f = = = 4.0 Hz
2 2
1 1
(c) period, T = = = 0.25 s
f 4.0
(d) velocity of the particle as its passes through its equilibrium position
v 0 = x0
= ( 8 )( 0.050 )
= 1.256
1.26 m s−1
6
(e) maximum acceleration of P during its motion
a0 = v 0
= ( 8 )( 8 )( 0.050 )
= 31.58
31.6 m s−2
7
Discuss Questions
2 Consider an object oscillating about the equilibrium position. Take rightwards as positive.
(a)
0 0
(b) Since v = x0 − x , at both x = − x 0 and x = x 0 , the object will have zero velocity
2 2
2 t
(b) (i) h = 5.0 + 3.0 sin
45600
2 t
Maximum depth of water occurs when sin = 1.
45600
Hence,
h = 5.0 + 3.0
h = 8.0 m
8
2 t
(ii) Minimum depth of water occurs when sin = −1 . Hence,
45600
h = 5.0 − 3.0
h = 2.0 m
(iii) Let t be the time at which the maximum depth of water occurs and t’ be the time at
which the minimum depth of water occurs.
The time interval between high- and low-water is 34200 – 11400 = 22800 s.
2 t
(iv) h = 5.0 + 3.0 sin
45600
2 t
5.0 = 5.0 + 3.0 sin
45600
2t
0 or
45600
t = 0 s or 22800 s
The two values of t at which the water is 5.0 m deep are 0 s or 22800 s.
2 t
(v) h = 5.0 + 3.0 sin
45600
2 t
7.0 = 5.0 + 3.0 sin
45600
2t
0.7297 or 2.4119
45600
t 5300 s or 17500 s
The times at which the depth of the water is 7.0 m are 5300 s and 17500 s.
Therefore, the length of time for each tide during which the depth of water is more
than 7.0 m is 17500 – 5300 = 12200 s.
9
5 (a) From graph, amplitude x0 = 0.024 m and maximum kinetic energy, KEmax = 75 10−3 J
1 1
KEmax = m 2 x02 = m ( 2 f ) x02
2
2 2
1
75 10−3 J = ( 0.590 )( 2 f ) ( 0.024 )
2 2
2
f = 3.34 Hz
(b) With its maximum kinetic energy reduced by 40 mJ, the peak of the graph falls from
75 mJ to 35 mJ. Based on Fig. 8.2, draw a horizontal line at KE = 40 mJ and it can be
shown that the intersection of KE = 40 mJ will be at a new amplitude of about 1.65 cm.
6 (a) Resonance is a phenomenon where the block oscillates with maximum amplitude.
- happens when the driving frequency of the water waves is equal to the natural
frequency of the oscillating block.
- maximum energy is transferred from the periodic force to the block.
(ii) Since resonance occurs, the driving frequency of the water wave is equal to the
natural frequency of the oscillating system.
1 28
Using f = ,
2 m
28
m=
( 2 f )
2
28
=
( 2 3.0 )
2
0.0788 kg
(c) (i) - as the water waves now transfer energy at a greater rate since its amplitude
increases.
- amplitude of the vertical oscillations of the block increases.
(ii) - distance between the wave crests increases, the driving frequency of the water
waves decreases.
- no longer equal to the natural frequency of the oscillating block.
- amplitude of the vertical oscillations of the block decreases as there is no
resonance.
10
7(a) The origin of upthrust is due to the difference in fluid pressure between the lower
surface and upper surface of a body.
The negative sign in the expression shows that the direction of the acceleration a
is always in the opposite direction to the displacement x from the equilibrium
position. These conditions for the tube to perform simple harmonic motion is thus
satisfied.
7(c)(ii) Ag
Compare the expression a = − x with a = − 2 x ,
m
Ag
2 =
m
Ag
( 2 f ) =
2
m
Ag
f =
4 2 m
=
(1.0 10 )( 4.2 10 ) (9.81)
3 −4
4 ( 32 10 )
2 −3
= 1.8 Hz
7(d)(i)1. 1 1
f = =
T 0.50
= 2.0 Hz
7(d)(i)2. Ag
f =
4 2 m
2.0 =
( )
4.2 10 −4 9.81
4 2
(32 10 )−3
7(d)(ii)1. 1. The tube loses energy due to the viscous forces of the liquid. This causes
the oscillations to be damped.
2. The tube loses energy to the surroundings and there is no work done by
an external force on the tube to compensate for the energy lost.
11
Decrease in energy = ½ (32 x 10-3) 42 (2.0)2 [(1.50 x 10-2)2 – (0.85 x 10-2)2]
= 3.9 x 10−4J
8(a)(i) Radian describes the plane angle subtended by a circular arc as the length of the
arc divided by the radius of the arc. One radian is the angle subtended at the
centre of a circle by an arc that is equal in length to the radius of the circle.
8(a)(ii) Angular frequency refers to number of radians per second in Simple Harmonic
Motion. Each complete oscillation is 2π radians. Hence, the angular frequency
gives the number complete oscillations per unit time.
8(b)(i) Since the motion is SHM, total energy of sphere is constant.
TE = KEmax = PEmax
PEmax = mgh = 0.12 9.81 0.0040 = 4.7 10 −3 J
8(b)(ii) KEmax = PEmax
1
m v max
2
= 4.7 10 −3
2
2 4.7 10 −3
2
v max = = 2 ( x02 − x 2 )
0.12
2 4.7 10 −3
2 (0.082 − 0) =
0.12
−3
2 4.7 10
(2 f )2 =
0.12 0.082
2 4.7 10 −3
f = = 0.56 Hz
0.12 0.082 (2 )2
9(a)
9(b)(i) 12.0
Period T = = 0.60 s
20
Equation of graph is
2
y = −15 cos t
T
2
= −15 cos t
0.6
12
2
2.0 = −15 cos t
0.6
t1 = 0.1628 s (displacement 2.00 mm, on the way down)
9(b)(ii))
9(c) The timing should be made from the position where the displacement is zero, i.e.
equilibrium position. The pendulum makes large observable displacements near
its equilibrium position, e.g. the displacement of −0.5 mm to the displacement of
+0.5 mm takes less than 0.10 s. From results in (b)(ii), the pendulum’s small
displacements near its maximum displacement make it difficult to observe if it has
truly reached its maximum position, easily causing an error in recorded period of
more than 0.10 s.
10(a)(i) Simple harmonic motion occurs when object’s displacement is proportional to its
acceleration. The acceleration acts towards the equilibrium position.
10(a)(ii)1. The graph in Fig 9.1 shows that the line cuts the origin and has a downward sloping
negative gradient. This shows that object’s acceleration is opposite to its
displacement and acts towards the origin.
10(a)(ii)2. The line is not straight showing that displacement is not proportional to
acceleration.
10(b)(i)1. The plate is at its upwards maximum displacement.
13
10(b)(i)2. At the maximum upward displacement,
considering forces acting on the sand
mg − N = m 2 x0
N = 0(when sand loses contact with surface)
mg = m 2 x0
9.81 = (2 f )2 ( x0 )
9.81 = 2 (13) ( x0 )
2
x0 = 1.47 10 −3 m
= 1.47 mm
The mass of the pebbles would not affect the minimum amplitude.
10(c)(i)1. ET = KEmax
1
= m 2 x02
2
1
= (1.2)(2 f )2 (0.034)2
2
= 0.171 J
10(c)(i)2. KE = PE
1 1
m 2 ( x02 − x 2 ) = m 2 x 2
2 2
x
x = 0 = 0.024 m
2
10(c)(ii)
14
Challenging Question
C1 (a) In this situation, the tray is moving in simple harmonic motion (SHM) and the cup on
the tray experiences a frictional force that is responsible for preventing it from sliding
off due to the tray’s acceleration.
The negative sign indicates that the frictional force acts in the direction opposite to the
displacement, working to resist the motion and accelerate the cup back towards the
equilibrium.
(c) The magnitude of the maximum frictional force F0 occurs when the displacement x is
at its maximum (which is the amplitude of the motion, x0 ). The maximum friction force
is F0 = m 2 x0 .
The limiting friction is the maximum frictional force the tray surface can provide before
the cup starts slipping. Given that the maximum frictional force is half the weight of
the cup, the limiting friction is
1
Flimiting = mg
2
The cup will slip when the required frictional force exceeds the limiting friction, i.e. when
F0 Flimiting
1
m 2 x0 mg
2
1
( 2 f ) x0 g
2
2
g
f
8 2 x0
Hence, the cup will slip if the frequency of oscillation f exceeds this critical value
g
fcritical =
8 2 x0
15
This shows that as the frequency of oscillation increases, the required frictional force
increases, and once the oscillation frequency exceeds this critical value, the cup will
slip because the tray's acceleration will require more frictional force than the surface
can provide.
= 1.576
1.58 Hz
16