Objectives

19. Oscillations
By Liew Sau Poh

19.1
19.2
19.3
19.4
19.5
19.6

Characteristics of simple harmonic motion

Kinematics of simple harmonic motion
Energy in simple harmonic motion
Systems in simple harmonic motion
Damped oscillations
Forced oscillations and Resonance

Outcomes

Outcomes

a) define simple harmonic motion by means of the

h) derive and use expressions for the periods of

b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)

equation a = 2x
Show that x = xo sin t as a solution of a = 2x
derive and use the formula v =
(A2 x2)
describe, with graphical illustrations, the variation in
displacement, velocity and acceleration with time
describe, with graphical illustrations, the variation in
velocity and acceleration with displacement
derive and use the expressions for kinetic energy and
potential energy
describe, with graphical illustrations, the variation in
kinetic energy and potential energy with time and
displacement

i)
j)
k)
l)

oscillations for spring-mass and simple pendulum

systems
describe the changes in amplitude and energy for
a damped oscillating system
distinguish between under damping, critical
damping and over damping
distinguish between free oscillations and forced
oscillations
state the conditions for resonance to occur

19.1 Characteristics of SHM

Periodic Motion

This type of motion is the most pervasive motion

in the universe.

Motion that repeats in a regular pattern over and

over again is called periodic motion.

All atoms oscillate under harmonic motion.

Simple harmonic motion is a specific type of

periodic motion that has a simple sine or cosine
wave shape.

We can model this motion with a linear restoring

force.

Position VS. Time graph

What is the simple mathematical form of SHM motion?
The displacement of the oscillating mass varies
sinusoidally as a function of time.

Hearbeat

Oscillating mass on a
Spring

Periodic Motion Simple Harmonic Motion

7

Simple Harmonic Motion

The restoring force of an
ideal spring is given by:

When there is a
restoring force,
F = -kx, simple
harmonic motion
occurs.

F = -kx
where k is the spring constant
and x is the displacement of
the spring from its unstrained
length. The minus sign
indicates that the restoring
force always points in opposite
direction to the displacement
of the spring.

19.2 Kinematics of SHM

10

19.2 Kinematics of SHM

Simple Harmonic Motion

(SHM) occurs when the force
acting on a body is
proportional to the
displacement of the body
from some equilibrium
position (eg. a spring or a
pendulum).

Fs = -kx
x
Fs = 0
Fs = +kx

Fs = -kx
x
Fs = 0
Fs = +kx

-x

When the block attached

to the spring (left) is
displaced a small distance
x from equilibrium, the
spring exerts a restoring
force which is
proportional to the
displacement:

-x
x=0

x=0

11

12

19.2 Kinematics of SHM

19.3 Energy in SHM

a = - (k/m) x
If we try x=A cos(wt+f) as a solution to this equation, we
obtain:

Total Energy
= Kinetic Energy + Potential Energy

v
a

dx
dt

A sin

d 2x

dt
2

A cos

d x
dt

Equation for Simple

Harmonic Motion

13

2m

k
Kt

m v2

k x2

14

19.3 Energy in SHM

Kt

x ( SHM )
2

So

E=K+U

xm sin t

1 k x 2 sin 2
2 m

19.3 Energy in SHM Motion

U t

2k

xm cos

U t

2k

xm2 cos 2

kx

2
m

t
t

range
of
motion

constant

U
E

15

16

turning
point

turning
point

2k

xm2

k x2

constant

KE and PE Conversion

Amplitude

Fs = -kx
x

A v

0 a

x KE

0 U

x
Fs = 0
x

0 v

1 2
kA U
2

A a 0 KE

1 2
kA
2

A cos

Acos t

Amplitude is the
magnitude of the
maximum
displacement.

Fs = +kx
x
17

-x

A v

0 a

A KE

0 U

1 2
kA
2
18

x=0

Period, T

Frequency, f
For any object in
simple harmonic
motion, the time
required to complete
one cycle is the period
T.

19

The frequency f of the simple harmonic motion is

the number of cycles of the motion per second.

1
T

20

Energy of the Simple Harmonic Oscillator

Energy transfer

For a displacement x = A cos (wt+f), we can say

that kinetic energy, KE is:

KE, U

KE

1 2
mv
2

1
m
2

A2 sin 2

kA2/2

Potential energy (elastic) PE is:

PE
Etotal
Etotal

21

Etotal

1 2 1 2
kx
kA cos 2
2
2
KE PE

1
k
m.
A2 sin 2
2
m
1 2
kA
2

kA2/2

cos 2

t
0
t = 0 corresponds to the stretched spring.

Thus, total energy is

proportional to amplitude2.

KE, U

22

Angular Frequency
2

Since m d 2x
dt

kx (restoring force )

k /m
or f

+A
x
x = 0 corresponds to equilibrium position of
spring.
-A

23

24

1/ T

1
2

k
m

Gravitational Pendulum

19.4 Systems in SHM

1.

Simple Pendulum: a bob of mass m hung on an

unstretchable massless string of length L.

Pendulums
1. The Simple Pendulum
2. The Physical Pendulum
3.

2.
3.
4.

SHM & Uniform Circular Motion

Damped SHM
Forced Oscillations & Resonance

25

26

The Simple Pendulum

Simple Pendulum
L Fg sin

L Fg

mg sin

But x L

mg L
I
m L2
I
acceleration ~ - displacement
2
xt
SHM a t

SHM for small

d2
g
2
dt
L
Comparing
a=

27

28

A pendulum leaving a trail of ink:

Physical Pendulum

in rad

g
L

mg

L
g

d2x
dt 2
(sin

L
g

A rigid body pivoted about a point other than its center of mass (com).
SHM for small
h F sin
hF
g

Pivot

Center of Mass

T
30

The Torsional Pendulum

Simple Harmonic Motion

Torsion Pendulum:

d2
dt 2

m
k

L
g

Any Oscillating System:

Spring:

33

m
k

I
T
34

2
I
mg h

quick method to measure g

29

mg h
I
2
xt

at
T

acceleration ~ - displacement
SHM

inertia
springiness

2
2

I
mgh
I

SHM & Uniform Circular Motion

SHM & Uniform Circular Motion

The projection of a point moving in uniform

circular motion on a diameter of the circle in
which the motion occurs executes SHM.

The reference point

of radius xm.
The projection of xm
on a diameter of the
circle executes
SHM.
radius = xm

The execution of uniform circular motion

describes SHM.
35

x t

http://positron.ps.uci.edu/~dkirkby/music/html/demos/SimpleHarmonicMotion/Circula
r.html

SHM & Uniform Circular Motion

v(t)

v t

xt
37

xm co s

radius = xm

xm

Measurements of the angle between Callisto and Jupiter:

Galileo (1610)

planet

xm cos t
2

xm

earth

38

Displacement-Time Graph

Equations of Motion (SHM)

x = A cos t

x = A cos t

v=-

A sin

a=-

2A

v=

(A2

a=-

2x

[the definition]

cos

x2 )0.5
-A
40

39

Velocity-Time Graph
v

Acceleration-Time Graph
v=

A sin t

a=

A cos t

A
41

at
v

a n g le

The projection of a point moving in uniform circular motion on a

diameter of the circle in which the motion occurs executes SHM.

a(t)

x m s in

SHM & Uniform Circular Motion

xm.
The projection of xm on a diameter of the circle executes
SHM.

x(t)

xm cos

36

UC Irvine Physics of Music Simple Harmonic Motion Applet Demonstrations

A
42

Velocity-Displacement Graph
v=

x )0.5

Acceleration-Displacement Graph
a=

[the definition]

A
A

-A

-A

A
43

44

Phase Relationship

Free oscillations
When a system oscillates without external forces
acting on it, the system is in free oscillation.
The amplitude of oscillation is constant, which
will not drop.

Displacement, x

x0

45

46

19.5 Damped Oscillations

Time

-x0

19.5 Damped Oscillations

In many real systems, nonconservative forces are

present
This is no longer an ideal system (the type we have
dealt with so far)
Friction is a common nonconservative force
In this case, the mechanical energy of the system
diminishes in time, the motion is said to be damped

Damped harmonic motion is harmonic motion

with a frictional or drag force. If the damping is
modifies the undamped oscillation.

47

48

Damped SHM

Damped SHM

SHM in which each oscillation is reduced by an external force.

kx
Restoring Force
SHM

FD

kx

ma

bv

ma

dx
kx b
dt

bv

Damping Force
In opposite direction to velocity
Does negative work
Reduces the mechanical energy
49

Fnet

d2x
m 2
dt

differential equation
50

19.5 Damped Oscillation

19.5 Damped Oscillations

A graph for a damped
oscillation
The amplitude
decreases with time
The blue dashed lines
represent the
envelope of the
motion

One example of damped motion

occurs when an object is attached
to a spring and submerged in a
viscous liquid
The retarding force can be
expressed as R = - b v where b is a
constant and is called the damping
coefficient

51

52

19.5 Damped Oscillation

19.5 Damped Oscillation

However, if the damping is

large, it no longer
resembles SHM at all.
A: underdamping: there are
a few small oscillations
before the oscillator
comes to rest.

B: critical damping: this is

the fastest way to get to
equilibrium.
C: overdamping: the
system is slowed so
much that it takes a long
time to get to
equilibrium.

53

54

19.5 Damped Oscillation

19.5 Damped Oscillation

There are systems where damping

is unwanted, such as clocks and
watches.
Then there are systems in which it
is wanted, and often needs to be as
close to critical damping as
possible, such as automobile shock
absorbers and earthquake
protection for buildings.

2nd Order Homogeneous Linear Differential Equation:

d 2x
dx
m 2
kx b
0 Solution of Differential Equation:
dt
dt
b

x (t )

2m

Damped Oscillations
x(t )

b
2m

xm e

cos

k
m

b2
4 m2

SHM

b
2m

k
m
the natural
frequency
0 " critically damped "

1
1

Auto Shock Absorbers

small damping

b
2m
b
2m

cos

b=0

56

b
t
2m

where:

55

57

xm e

0 " overdam ped "

Exponential solution to the DE

58

Typical automobile shock

absorbers are designed to produce
slightly under-damped motion

19.6 Forced Oscillations &

Resonance
Forced oscillations occur when there is a
periodic driving force. This force may or
may not have the same period as the
natural frequency of the system.
If the frequency is the same as the natural
frequency, the amplitude becomes quite
large. This is called resonance.
59

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

It is possible to compensate for the loss of energy
in a damped system by applying an external force
The amplitude of the motion remains constant if
the energy input per cycle exactly equals the
decrease in mechanical energy in each cycle that
results from resistive forces

60

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

After a driving force on an initially stationary
object begins to act, the amplitude of the
oscillation will increase
After a sufficiently long period of time,

Edriving = Elost to internal

Then a steady-state condition is reached
The oscillations will proceed with constant
amplitude
61

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

The sharpness of the
resonant peak depends
on the damping. If the
damping is small (A), it
can be quite sharp; if
the damping is larger
(B), it is less sharp.

External frequency f

Like damping, resonance can be wanted or

unwanted. Musical instruments and TV/radio
receivers
62
depend on it.

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

When the frequency of the driving force is near to
the natural frequency ( ) an increase in
amplitude occurs
This dramatic increase in the amplitude is called
resonance
The natural frequency is also called the
resonance frequency of the system

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

63

64

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

Each oscillation is driven by an external force to
maintain motion in the presence of damping.

Each oscillation is driven by an external force to

maintain motion in the presence of damping:

F0 cos

wd = driving frequency

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

2nd Order Homogeneous Linear Differential Equation:
d 2x
dx
m 2
kx m 2
F0 cos d t
dt
dt
Steady-State Solution of Differential Equation:

x( t )

2nd Order Inhomogeneous Linear Differential Equation:

d2x
m 2
dt
65

kx

k
m

dx
dt

xm cos

where:

F0 cos

t
d

F0

xm
m2
tan
66

2
d

b
m

d
2

2
d

b2

2
d

k
m

w = natural frequency
wd = driving frequency

19.6 Forced Oscillations & Resonance

The natural frequency, w, is the frequency of
oscillation when there is no external driving force
or damping.
F0
less damping
xm
2 2
2
2
2
2
m
b d
d
k
m

more damping

w = natural frequency
wd = driving frequency When w = w resonance occurs!
d
67

68

Stop the SHM caused by winds on a highrise building

400 ton weight mounted on a spring on a high floor
of the Citicorp building in New York.

The weight is forced to oscillate at the same

frequency as the building but 1190 degrees out of
70
phase.

69

Summary
OSCILLATION
Free

Damped

Displacement, x

Forced Oscillations
and Resonance
less damping

x
00
x
0

72

Time
more

damping