Chapter 14 The motion of earth around the sun is

periodic but it is not oscillatory.

OSCILLATIONS
Period(T)
Periodic Motion:-
The smallest time interval after
A motion which repeats at
which a periodic motion is repeated is
regular intervals of time is called called the time period (T).
a periodic motion.
If a particle oscillates N times
Examples:- in a time‘t’ seconds, its time period.
(i) The motion of any planet t
around the sun. T=
N
(ii) The motion of moon around
earth. Frequency(ν)
(iii) The motion of the hands of a
The number of repetitions per
clock.
second is called the frequency.
Oscillation or Harmonic motion.
If a particle oscillates N times
To and fro motion of a body in a time‘t’ seconds, its frequency.
about a mean position is called
N 1
oscillation or harmonic motion. V= =
t T
Oscillations with high S I unit is S-1 or Hz (hertz)
frequency are usually called
vibrations. Angular Frequency(ω)

Examples of Oscillation or 2
ω= = 2 ν
Vibration:- T

(i) Oscillation of a simple SI Unit:- radian per second (rad s 1 )

pendulum.
Problem1:- On an average a human
(ii) To and fro motion of the piston
heart is found to beat 72 times in a
of an automobile engine.
minute. Calculate period and
(iii) Vibrations of an excited
frequency of the of heart beat.
turning fork.
Soln:
Difference between Periodic and
Oscillatiotory motions: N = 72, t = 1min. = 60sec.,T = ?, ν = ?

Every oscillatory motion is t 60

T= = = 0.83s
necessarily periodic. But every N 72
periodic motion need not be
1 1
oscillatory. For example, V= = = 1.2 Hz
T 0.83

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 1
Displacement Variable Or

The physical quantity f(t) = A sin ωt

which changes with time in a
Periodic motion is called
displacement Variable or
displacement.
Displacement variable can be
physical quantities such as position,
angle, voltage, pressure, electric field,
magnetic field etc.
Or
f (t) = A sin ωt + B cos ωt
A periodic function has the
property f(t+T) = f(t), where T is the
time period of the function.
Problem2:-

Examples:- S. T the function f(t) = A sin ωt is

periodic.
 When a body attached at the end of
a spring vibrates, the displacement Solution:-
variable is the position vector from f(t) = A sin ωt
its equilibrium position.
f(t+T) = A sin ω(t+T)
 In the case of the oscillation of a
simple pendulum, the displacement = A sin (ωt+ωT)
variable is the angle from the vertical.
But ωT = 2 T =2π
T
 In the study of a.c, the
displacement variable is the voltage f(t+T) = A sin (ωt+2π)
or current.
= A sin ωt = f(t)
 For sound waves travelling through
 f(t+T)=f(t)
air, the displacement variable is the
pressure. That is f(t) is a periodic function.
 For the propagation of Fourier theorem
electromagnetic waves the
displacement variable is the electric This theorem states that any
and magnetic field vectors. periodic function can be expressed as
a linear combination of sine and
Mathematical Representation of cosine functions of different time
Periodic motion periods with suitable coefficients.
A periodic motion can be f(t)= A sin ωt + B cos ωt is a periodic
represented using a sine function, a function.
cosine function or a linear
combination of sine and cosine Problem3:-
function. Which of the following
f(t) = A cos ωt functions of time represent (a)

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 2
Periodic and (b) non-periodic motion? Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
Give the time period for each case (i)
Definition:- An oscillating particle is
sinωt + cosωt
said to execute SHM if the restoring
(ii) sinωt + cos2ωt + sin4ωt force on the particle at any instant of
–ωt
(iii) e (iv) log(ωt) time is directly proportional to its
displacement from the mean
Solution:- position and is always directed
(i) sin ωt + cos ωt is a periodic towards the mean position.
function, with time period T=
Restoring force α Displacement
2
 Fαx
(ii) sin ωt + cos 2ωt + sin4ωt is a
periodic function or F= -kx

2 k →force constant
Time period of sin ωt, T₀=

By Newton’s 2nd Law
2
Time period of cos2ωt, T= F = ma
2
⇒ ma = -kx
 T
= = o
 2 k
⇒ a= x
m
2
Time period of sin 4ωt, T=
4 i.e., a α x
 2  Examples of SHM:
   T
=  =
4 4 (i) Oscillations of a loaded spring
(ii) Vibrations of a tuning fork
 The time period of the given (iii) Vibrations of balance wheel of
2 a watch.
function is T₀= (common time

(iv) Oscillations of a simple
period or LCM)
pendulum
 t (v) Oscillations of a freely
(iii) The function e is not
suspended magnet in a uniform
periodic. It decreases
magnetic field.
continuously with increase in
time. When t→  , e   t →0 and Differential equation of SHM
thus never repeats its value.
(iv) The function log(ωt) is not We have F =  kx for SHM.
periodic, it increases with time By Newton’s 2nd law F = ma,
‘t’. When t→  ,log ωt→ 
d (v) d  dx  d 2 x
and thus never repeats its a=    2
dt dt  dt  dt
value.

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 3
 d2x Simple Harmonic Motion and
 m 2 =  kx
dt Uniform Circular Motion

d 2 x k
or = x
dt 2 m

k d 2x
Put =  2 , then 2   2 x
m dt
d 2x
I.e., 2
  2 x  0 , which is the
dt
differential equation of SHM.

The solution of this

Consider the motion of a
Differential equation is of the form
reference particle P executing uniform
x  A cos(t   ) circular motion on a reference circle
of radius A. At any time the angular
Displacement in SHM position of the particle is  t   ,
where  is its angular position at t=0.
Consider a particle vibrating
back and forth about the origin of an The projection of the point P on the x
x-axis between the limits –A and +A -axis is the point P′.
as shown in figure.
The projection of position
The displacement x ( t ) of the particle vector of the reference particle P on
is given by phase the x -axis gives the location x (t ) of
P′. Thus we have,
x(t )  A cos(t   )
x (t )  A cos( t   )
x(t )  Displacement
A  Amplitude This shows that if the reference
  Initial phase or particle P moves in a uniform
circular motion; its projection
phase cons tan t
particle P′ executes a simple
harmonic motion along a diameter of
the circle.

Thus a simple harmonic

motion can be defined as the
projection of uniform circular
motion on a diameter of the circle.

Question1:

A ball is fixed on the edge of a

turn table. A light source and a screen

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 4
are arranged such that the shadow of    A cos( t   )  
the ball at anytime during the rotation
can be seen on the screen. What is the a (t )    2 A cos( t   )
nature of motion of the shadow of the
a (t )    2 x (t )
ball on the screen?

Ans: Simple Harmonic Motion. The above equation shows that

Velocity and Acceleration in SHM
Displacement of a particle
executing SHM is given by
x (t )  ACos ( t   )
in SHM, the acceleration is
proportional to displacement and is
always directed to the mean position.

 Velocity,
d
v (t )   x (t )  Force in SHM
dt

d F = ma
  A cos(t   
dt
= m(-2 x), but m2 =k
= A   sin( t   )    F=-kx
v (t )    A sin( t   ) k  force constant
SI unit of k isN/m
  A 1  cos (t   )
 2

Time Period in SHM

  A2  A2 cos 2 (t   ) k
We have,  2 
m
  A2  x2 k

m
v(t )   A2  x 2 2 k
 
We have T m
2
T 
k
m
m
 T  2
Acceleration, k

dv(t ) Frequency in SHM

a (t ) 
dt
1
Frequency v 
d 

dt
  A sin(t   )  T

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 5
 
1 1
k
 kA2 cos 2 ( t   )
2 2
m

1 k 1 2
  kA sin 2 (t   )  cos 2 ( t   ) 
2 m 2
1
v
1 k  kA2
2 m 2

Energy in SHM 1
 E  kA2
A particle executing SHM has
2
kinetic and potential energies, both Total energy of a harmonic
varying between the limits, zero and oscillation is independent of time, for
maximum. any conservative force.
Kinetic energy ,
1 2
K mv
2

1
 m[  A sin(t   )]2
2
Some Systems Executing SHM.
1
 m 2 A2 sin 2 ( t   )
2 1. Horizontal Oscillations of a block of
mass attached to a spring.
1 2
K kA sin 2 ( t   )
2
Potential Energy,
1
U  kx 2
2

1
k  A cos(t   ) 
2

2 A block of mass is placed on a
1 2 horizontal frictionless surface. If the
U kA cos 2 ( t   ) block is pulled on one side and is
2
released, it then execute to and fro
Total energy, motion about the mean position x=0.

E  K U The restoring force acting on

the block,
1 2 2
 kA sin ( t   ) F   kx
2

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 6
 ‘k’ is called spring constant. Restoring torque,
  Force   dis tan ce
The above equation is same as
the force law for SHM and therefore   Fg sin  L
the system execute SHM.   mg sin  L

Here k  m2 Negative sign shows that force acts to

reduce θ.
k k
2    But we have τ= I α
m m
 I  mgL sin
2
But ,  
T  mgL
 sin 
2 k I
 
T m
If θ is small, sin    (θ in radian)
m mgL
T  2   
k
I
2. The Simple Pendulum But the moment of inertia of the

The forces acting on the both bob is, I  mL2

are force ‘T’, tension in the string and mgL g
the gravitational force ‘mg’ as shown in   2
 
mL L
figure.
The above equation shows that
simple pendulum swinging through
small angles is SHM.

Comparing the above equation

to the general equation of SHM

[     , rotational analogue of
2

a   2 x ], we get
g
2 
Fgcosθ cancels with the tension T in L
the string.
g

Fgsinθ acts as the restoring force. L

2 g

T L

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 7
 L Acceleration due to gravity using
 T  2 simple pendulum.
g
We have
This is the expression for time
period of a simple pendulum. L
T  2
g
Frequency,
L
1 1 g  T 2  4 2
v  g
T 2 L
L
 g  4 2
1 g T2
v
2 L
By using the above equation,
The time period of a simple we can calculate the acceleration due
pendulum depends on: to gravity at a place.

(1) Length of the pendulum (L) and
(2) Acceleration due to gravity (g).
Time period is independent of:
(1) Mass of the bob (m)
(2) Amplitude of oscillations(θ)
Second’s pendulum
Damped Simple Harmonic Motion
The oscillations are said to be
damped if the amplitude of
oscillations continuously decreases
due to dissipating forces like frictional
force.

Pendulum having time period

T=2s is called a seconds pendulum.

Length of second’s pendulum:-

L
T  2
g

L
T 2  4 2
g

L
 22  4  3.14 2  If the block of mass is set into vertical
9.8
oscillations, due to the damping forces
4  9.8 exerted by the viscous medium, the
L  1m
4  3.14 2 oscillations will be damped.

Here the damping force, F   bv

b  Damping constant.

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 8
The –ve sign shows that the damping 1
force is opposite to the velocity of the E (t )  k ( ampitude )2
2
block of mass.
1
k  A  bt / 2 m 
2
The restoring force on the 
block due to the spring 2

F  kx 1
 kA2 ebt / m
2
Total force F=  kx  bv
Energy also continuously
But F  ma decreases with time.
 ma   kx  bv Forced Oscillations And Resonance
 ma  bv  kx  0 When a body oscillates under
d 2x dx the influence of an external periodic
m 2
 b  kx  0 force, not with its own natural
dt dt
frequency but with the frequency of
This is a second order differential the external periodic force, its
equation and the solution is of the oscillations are said to be forced
form: x (t )  Ae
 bt / 2 m
cos( ' t   ) oscillations or driven oscillations.

Here Ae
bt / 2m
is the amplitude of Eg:- When the stem of a
oscillations and ω′ is the angular vibrating tuning fork is pressed
frequency of the damped oscillator. against a table, a loud sound is heard.
This is because the particles of the
k b2 table are forced to vibrate with the
w  
m 4m 2 frequency of the tuning fork.

The amplitude of oscillations Suppose an external periodic

Aebt / 2m continuously decreases force F0 cos d t applied to a damped

 bt / 2 m oscillatior.
because of the factor e .
F0→amplitude of the periodic
force, ωd→ frequency of the driving
force.

Total force acting on the

oscillator at any time,

F   kx  bv  F0 cos d t
 ma   kx  bv  F0 cos d t
 ma  bv  kx  F0 cos d t
Energy of damped oscillator
d2x dx
 m 2  b  kx  F0 cos d t
dt dt

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 9
The displacement of the oscillator,
after the natural oscillations die out
and the oscillator oscillates with the
frequency of the force, is obtained by
solving the above differential
equation.

x (t )  A cos(d t   )
Examples of resonance.
Here,
F0 1. Resonance of air column in
A  1
resonance column apparatus.
[m 2 (2  d 2 ) 2  d 2 b ]
2 2
2. Resonance of sonometer wire.
3. The rattling of window glass
Special case 1
during thunder.
Small damping: Driving 4. Soldiers marching along a road
frequency far from natural frequency. are asked to break up their steps
while reaching a bridge. This is
In this case, wd b  m (   d )
2 2 2 2 2 2
to avoid resonance between the
and we can neglect that term. stamping of soldier and vibrations
of the bridge and consequent
Special case 2 breakdown of the bridge.
Driving frequency close to the 5. Tacoma Bridge in Washington
natural frequency: was destroyed by resonance
produced by wind.
If ωd is very close to ω, then 6. During Earthquakes, short and
m 2 ( 2  d 2 ) 2  wd 2b 2 tall structures remain unaffected
while the medium height
F0 structures fall down.
Therefore, A 
d b
Experimental illustration of
In this case, if the damping also is resonance.
small, the amplitude may increase to a
very large value.

The phenomenon of increase in

amplitude of oscillations when the
driving frequency is close to the
natural frequency is called
resonance.

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 10
 Let us set pendulum 1 into v y   A(cos t   )
motion. Then the pendulums 2,3,4
and 5 start oscillating with their vy   A2  y 2
natural frequencies and their
frequencies of oscillations gradually ay   2 y
change and finally they oscillate with
the frequency of pendulum 1 but with 2
T
different amplitudes. 

Pendulum 4 oscillates with the 2. A girl is oscillating in a swing with

same frequency of pendulum 1 and its a time period T. What will happen
amplitude gradually increases to a to the period, it she stands up?
large value. Pendulum 4 has
l
resonance. Ans:- T  2
g
Free oscillation is for : Pendulum 1.
L is the distance of suspension to the
Forced oscillations : Pendulum 2,3,4 centre of gravity. When she stands
and 5. up, the centre of gravity will get
raised. Therefore  decreases and T
Resonance : Pendulum 4 (since its
decreases.
frequency is same as that of pendulum
1) 3. The bob of a simple pendulum is a
ball filled with water. As it is
Important Questions and their
oscillating water flows out through
Answers
a hole at the bottom. What
1. Write down the equations related happens to the period?
to SHM parallel to (i) X axis (ii)
Ans:- The centre of gravity is
Y axis.
originally at the centre. When water
Ans:- Parallel to X axis flows out the centre of gravity gets
lowered, reaches a certain lower point
x  A cos( t   )
and then rises to the original level
vx   A sin t when all the water flows out.
Therefore ‘  ’ will first increase, reach
vx   A2  x2 a maximum and then decrease to the
original value. Therefore period will
a x   2 x first increase, reach a maximum and
then decrease to the original value.
2
T 4. What is the formula for the

effective force constant of two
Parallel to Y axis springs in parallel?

y  A sin(t   ) Ans:- k= 1 + 2

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 11
 m 1
= m 2 ( A2  x 2 )
T  2 2
k1  k 2
1
5. Write the time period of oscillations KE  k ( A2  x 2 )
2
of the mass in figure.
TE  PE  KE

1 2 1
 kx  k ( A2  x 2 )
2 2

1 2 1 2 1 2
 kx  kA  kx
Ans: 2 2 2

F  2kx 1 2
 kA
2
2k
2 
m 8. A spring with spring constant 1200
2k N/m is mounted on a horizontal

m table as shown. A mass of 3 Kg is
2 m attached to the free end of the
T  2
 2k spring. The mass is then pulled
sideways to a distance of
6. What is the formula for effective
2 cm and released.
force constant of two springs in
series?

Ans:-

1 1 1 Determine:
  (i) Frequency of oscillations.
k k1 k 2
k 1k 2 (ii) Maximum acceleration of
k the mass.
k1  k 2
m Ans:
T  2
k1k 2
k1  k 2

7. Write the expressions f or KE, PE

and total energy in SHM.

Ans:-

1 2
PE  kx
2

1 2 1
KE  mv  m( A2  x 2 ) 2
2 2 9. Write the expression for the time
period of oscillation of the system

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 12
 shown in the figure

Ans:

10. a) Write the expression for the

time period of a spring mass
system?
b) If the spring is cut into two
equal halves and one half of the 12. What is the frequency of
spring is used to suspend the same oscillations of a simple pendulum
mass then obtain an expression for mounted in a cabin which is freely
the ratio of periods of oscillation falling under gravity?
in the two cases.
c) If this system is completely Ans:
immersed in water then what
happens to the oscillation?
Ans:

13. If ‘T’ is the period of oscillation of

a simple pendulum. Show that the
time taken by the bob to go
directly from its mean position to
T
half the amplitude is .
12

Ans:

11. Ramu tied a spherical pot with a

string and suspended on a clamp.
He then filled it with water.
Length of the string is 90 cm and
radius of the pot is 10 cm. He then
slightly displaced the pot to one
side and made it to oscillate.
Calculate the period of oscillation
of the pot.
Ans:

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 13
14. a) What is the shape of L-T2 graph
of a simple pendulum?
b) How would you calculate
the value of acceleration from L-
T2 graph?
c) Calculate the length of a
simple pendulum of period √3
seconds.
Ans:

16. A body oscillates with S.H.M. is is

 
given by x  5 cos  2t   .
 4
Calculate the displacement at time
t=1.5s
Ans:

15. Explain what happens to the

period of oscillations, if the point
of suspension of the pendulum
i) Moves vertically upwards
with an acceleration ‘a’
ii) Moves downwards
vertically with acceleration
less than the acceleration 17. A particle executes S.H.M.
due to gravity. according to the equation
iii) Falls freely under gravity.  2 
x  5sin  t  .
iv) Moves horizontally with an  3 
acceleration ‘a’ a) Find the period of oscillation
v) Is taken to a height equal to b) What is the minimum time
the radius of earth required for the particle to
move between two points
Ans:

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 14
 2.5cm on either side of the
mean position?
c) What is the time taken to move
from the mean position to the
extreme position?
Ans:

19. At what displacements are the KE

and PE of a particle executing
SHM are such that
(i) KE=PE
(ii) KE=2 PE
Ans:

18. (a)Under what conditions for the

amplitude, are the oscillations of
the pendulum are simple
20. At what displacement is the speed
harmonic? (1)
of particle in SHM half the
(b)The period of oscillation of the maximum speed?
pendulum is T. What will be the Ans:
period if the pendulum is
suspended in a lift moving down
with acceleration equal to g/3

Ans:

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 15
21. The amplitude of simple harmonic
motion is doubled. What change
will you observe in the following
physical quantities of the
oscillator?
(a) Period
(b) Maximum velocity
(c) Maximum acceleration

(d) Total energy

SAJU K JOHN, M.Sc. Physics, NET, Doctoral Research Fellow at NIT Calicut 16