Waves and Oscillations

Superposition of two mutually perpendicular

harmonic oscillations
HAVING DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES (LISSAJOUS FIGURES):
 When the frequencies of the two perpendicular SHMs are not equal, the resulting motion becomes more complicated. The
patterns which are traced out by a particle which is subjected simultaneously to two mutually perpendicular harmonic
oscillations of different frequencies, are called Lissajous figures named after French mathematician, J. A. Lissajous (1822-
1880) who made an extensive study of these motions. We shall now give a few examples to illustrate the shape of the
Lissajous figures for some special cases.

 (i) Frequencies in the ratio of 1:2

 Let us first consider the case when the frequency 𝜔2 of the y oscillation is twice the frequency 𝜔1 of the x oscillation, i.e
𝜔1 = 𝜔 and 𝜔2 = 2𝜔. The two SHMs are given by:
x=𝐴1 cos(𝜔𝑡) (1)
y=𝐴2 cos(2𝜔𝑡 + 𝛿) (2)
Where 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 are their respective amplitudes and 𝛿 is the phase difference between them.
The resultant motion of the particle can be found by the following methods.
1. 1. Analytical method 2. Graphical method
 Superposition of two mutually perpendicular
harmonic oscillations having different frequencies
Analytical method:
 In the analytical method, we find the locus of the instantaneous particle position by eliminating time t from
equations (1) and (2) so that we are left with an expression involving only x and y and the constant 𝛿.
Expanding the argument of cosine in equation (2).
𝑦
y=𝐴2 cos(2𝜔𝑡 + 𝛿) → = cos(2𝜔𝑡)cos(𝛿) − sin(2𝜔𝑡)sin(𝛿)
𝐴2
𝑦
= (2cos(𝜔𝑡)2 − 1)cos(𝛿) − 2sin(𝜔𝑡)cos(𝜔𝑡)sin(𝛿) (3)
𝐴2

From equation (1), we get

𝑥 𝑥
=cos(𝜔𝑡) and sin(𝜔𝑡) = 1 − ( )2 , putting the values of sine and cosine in equation (3) we get
𝐴1 𝐴1

𝑦 𝑥2 𝑥 𝑥
= (2 12
− 1)cos(𝛿) − 2 1 − ( )2 sin(𝛿)
𝐴2 𝐴 𝐴1 𝐴1

𝑦 𝑥2 𝑥 𝑥
( + cos(𝛿)) − 2 2 cos(𝛿) = −2 1 − ( )2 sin(𝛿)
𝐴2 𝐴1 𝐴1 𝐴1
 Superposition of two mutually perpendicular
harmonic oscillations having different frequencies
which on squaring both sides and upon simplification, reduces to
𝑦 𝑦 𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑥 2
( + cos(𝛿))2 −4( + cos(𝛿)) 2 cos(𝛿) + 4( 2 cos(𝛿))2 = 4 2 (1 − )sin2 (𝛿)
𝐴2 𝐴2 𝐴1 𝐴1 𝐴1 𝐴1 Y
𝑦 2 𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑦
( + cos(𝛿)) +4 2 ( 2 −1− cos(𝛿)) =0 (4)
𝐴2 𝐴1 𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴2
This is an equation of the fourth degree which, in general represents a
closed curve having two loops.
−𝐴1 𝐴1
When 𝛿 = 0, putting the value of 𝛿 in equation 4 X
2 2
𝑦 𝑥 𝑥 𝑦
( + 1)2 +4 2 ( 2 − 1 − ) = 0
𝐴2 𝐴1 𝐴1 𝐴2
𝑦 𝑥2 2 −𝐴2
( + 1 − 2 2) = 0
𝐴2 𝐴1
This represents two coincident parabolas with their vertices at (0, −𝐴2 ) as
shown in figure 1, the equation of each parabola being Figure 1: Superposition of two
. 2
𝑦 𝑥2 𝐴 perpendicular SHMs with frequencies
1
+ 1 − 2 2 = 0 → 𝑥2 = (𝑦 + 𝐴2 ) in ratio 1:2 and phase difference zero.
𝐴2 𝐴1 2𝐴 2
 Superposition of two mutually perpendicular
harmonic oscillations having different frequencies
Graphical method:
 The analytical method becomes much cumbersome for
values of phase constant other than zero. Using the graphical 2𝐴1
method we shall find, that the resultant motion can be 𝐴2
constructed quite conveniently. Given figure shows, how the
rotating vector technique is used to obtain the shape of the
Lissajous figures when 𝛿 = π/4 and 𝜔2 = 2𝜔.
𝜋
 The rotating vector 𝑂2 𝑃2 makes an angle 𝛿 = 4 at time t=0
with the y-axis to show that y oscillation has an initial phase
𝜋
of 4 . However, at this instant of time the rotating vector
𝑂1 𝑃1 just coincides with the x-axis to represent that the x
oscillation has initial phase zero. Since the y oscillation has Figure 2: Superposition
frequency twice that of the x oscillation, we, therefore, of two perpendicular 𝐴1
choose to divide the circumference of the circle of radius 𝐴2 SHMs with frequencies
into 8 equal parts and that of circle of radius 𝐴1 into 16 in ratio 1:2 and phase
equal parts. 𝜋
difference 𝛿 = 4 .
 Superposition of two mutually perpendicular
harmonic oscillations having different frequencies
 This is to ensure that during the time the vector 𝑂2 𝑃2 describes one-eighth part of the circle, the vector 𝑂1 𝑃1 describes
during this time only 1/16th of its circle. Note that while the frequency of rotation of vector 𝑂2 𝑃2 is double that of
rotation vector of 𝑂1 𝑃1 , its period is just half of that. During one complete cycle of 𝜔2 we go through only half a
cycle of 𝜔1 and therefore the points on the reference circles are marked accordingly. Indeed one must go through a
complete cycle of 𝜔1 in order to get one complete period of the combined motion.
 It is now a simple exercise to construct the resultant motion corresponding to other phase differences. The following
Figure 3 shows the sequence of these motions for values of phase difference 𝛿 = 0 to 𝛿 = 2π.

Fig. 3 Lissajous figures: 𝝎𝟐 = 𝟐𝝎𝟏 with various initial phase differences

 Superposition of two mutually perpendicular
harmonic oscillations having different frequencies
 The analytical method become more and more cumbersome as the frequency ratio increases so, the graphic methods are
used to find out the resultant motion. As one go to more complicated frequency ratios, the resulting curve tend to become
more bizarre.
 If the frequencies of the perpendicular oscillations are not commensurate, the resulting motion is not periodic. It does not
repeat itself. In such cases, the particle will describe an endless curves.
 A study about Lissajous figures reveals some very interesting
features about them when the frequencies of the two perpendicular
harmonic oscillations are in a commensurate ratio.
❖ The resultant curve is inscribed in a rectangle of sides 2𝐴1 and
2𝐴2 , where 𝐴1 and 𝐴2 are the amplitudes of the component
oscillations.
❖ The resulting motion is periodic since the curve returns to itself.
❖ The sides of the rectangle are tangential to the curve at a number
of points and the ratio of the numbers of these tangential points
along the x axis to those along the y axis is the inverse of the
ratio of the corresponding frequencies.
Figure 4 Simple Lissajous figures produced by perpendicular
simple harmonic motions of different angular frequencies
 Superposition of two mutually perpendicular
harmonic oscillations having different frequencies

Figure 5 Simple Lissajous figures produced by perpendicular simple harmonic motions of different angular frequencies.
 Demonstration of Lissajous figures
 Lissajous figures can be seen by using a cathode ray oscilloscope (CRO) shown in the figure 6 which is given below.
Here, two rectangular oscillations are simultaneously imposed upon a beam of cathode rays by connecting two
sources of electrical oscillations to horizontal plates XX and vertical plates YY of the oscilloscope. We then see the
trace of the resultant effect in the form of an electron beam on the fluorescent screen. By adjusting the phases,
amplitudes and the ratio of the frequencies of the applied voltage, we obtain various curves as shown in Fig. 5.
Lissajous figures may be used to compare two nearly equal frequencies. If the frequencies of are not exactly equal,
the Lissajous figure will change gradually.

Figure 6: Basic structure of cathode ray oscilloscope.

 Uses of Lissajous figures
 Lissajous figures are used in obtaining beautiful designs for printing in cloth industry.
 Lissajous figures find useful applications in the acoustical measurements, e.g., determination of unknown
frequency. If the frequencies of vibration of the two rectangular vibrations are not exactly equal or in the
ratio 2 : 1, the form of the Lissajous figure undergoes a gradual progressive change. The time, taken by the
curve to undergo a complete cycle of changes, enables us to find the frequency of one vibration, if the
frequency of the other is known. Let the frequency of one vibration be 𝜐1 and that of the other be slightly
different 𝜐2 , the frequencies being nearly in the ratio 1 : 1. If 𝑡𝑐 be the time in which the cycle undergoes a
complete change of Lissajous figure,
1
𝜐2 − 𝜐1 = ±
𝑡𝑐

 One practical application of Lissajous figures is that they enable us to know by inspection the period ratio
of its constituent vibrations. It is evident that if the horizontal and vertical lines are drawn on a Lissajous
figure and if they cut it m and n times respectively, the required period ratio of the two vibrations is m : n.
i.e.,
Frequency along y−direction (𝜐2 ) 𝑚
=
Frequency along x−direction (𝜐1 ) 𝑛
Number of intersection points of the Lissajous figure by a parallel line to −axis
=
Number of intesection points of the figure by a parallel line to −axis
Example 7: A tuning fork A produces 4 beats with tuning fork B of frequency 256 Hz. When A is waxed,
the beats are found to occur at shorter intervals. What was its original frequency?