PHY145

CHAPTER 7
OSCILLATORY MOTION & WAVES
 CONTENTS
• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
• Equation of Displacement, Velocity & Acceleration with function of time
• Mass Spring system
• Simple Pendulum
• Energy in SHM
• Transverse wave and Longitudinal Wave
• Wave equation (y (x,t))
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this chapter, you should be able to
1. Define the concept involves in oscillatory motion.
2. Apply and be familiar with oscillatory motion’s variables such as frequency, period and
amplitude.
3. Write and apply formulas of determination of displacement (x), velocity (v), or acceleration
(a) in terms of time, frequency and amplitude.
4. Write and apply a relationship between the frequency of motion and the mass of a
vibrating object when the spring constant is known.
5. Solve any question involves either in spring @ simple pendulum ‘s problems.
6. Demonstrate by definition and example of your understanding of transverse and
longitudinal wave motion.
7. Define, relate and apply the meaning of terms frequency, wavelength and speed of wave
motion.
8. State general equation of wave.
 SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
• Simple harmonic motion (SHM)-the motion repeats
itself at regular interval between 2 unchanged
positions.
• Amplitude (A)
• the maximum displacement from the equilibrium
position / origin.
• Period, T
• is the time for one complete oscillation.
(seconds, s)
• Frequency, f,
• is the number of complete oscillations per
second. Hertz (s-1)
EXAMPLE 1
The suspended mass makes
30 complete oscillations in
15 s. What is the period and
frequency of the motion?
DISPLACEMENT AGAINST TIME
GRAPH
 DISPLACEMENT IN SHM

𝑥 = 𝐴 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑)
A = Amplitude
= Maximum displacement from the origin (m)
(ωt + φ) = Phase of motion at any time t (rad)
φ = Phase constant = Phase of motion at t = 0 s
= defined as the phase of the motion at t = 0 s
ω = Angular frequency (rads-1) ; ω = 2πf
; f =ω / 2π
 VELOCITY IN SHM
ⅆ
𝑣= 𝑥 𝑡
ⅆ𝑡
ⅆ
= 𝐴 cos 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑
ⅆ𝑡
𝑣 = −𝜔𝐴 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑

Maximum velocity of the object = ωA

𝑣 = 𝜔 𝐴2 − 𝑥 2
 VELOCITY IN SHM
• Velocity is positive when moving to the right and negative when moving to the left.
 ACCELERATION IN SHM
ⅆ ⅆ
𝑎= 𝑣 = −𝜔𝐴 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑
ⅆ𝑡 ⅆ𝑡

= 𝜔2 𝐴 cos 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑

𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑥

Maximum acceleration of the object = 𝜔2 𝐴

• Acceleration is in the direction of the restoring force. (a is positive when x is
negative, and negative when x is positive.)
• F = ma = -kx
PHASE RELATIONSHIP
 EXAMPLE 1:

The displacement of an oscillating object as a function of time is shown in

figure above. From the graph above, determine for these oscillations
• a. the amplitude, the period and the frequency,
• b. the angular frequency,
• c. the equation of displacement as a function of time,
• d. the equation of velocity and acceleration as a function of time.
 EXAMPLE 2:

• An object oscillates with SHM along the x axis. Its position varies with time
according to the equation

𝜋
𝑥 = 4.00 sin 3𝜋𝑡 +
2

where x is in metres and t is in seconds. Determine

a. the amplitude, frequency, period and phase angle of the motion,
b. the velocity and acceleration of the object at any time, t ,
c. the position, velocity and acceleration of the object at t = 1.00 s,
d. the maximum speed and maximum acceleration of the object.
 EXERCISE 1
• The displacement of an object is represented by equation

20𝜋
𝑥 𝑡 = 0.5 cos 200𝜋𝑡 + 𝑚
17
• Find the
i. Amplitude
ii. Frequency
iii. Period
iv. Maximum velocity
v. Velocity of the object at t = 0.15 s
Answer = 0.5 m, 100 Hz, 0.01 s, 314.2 ms-1, 165.38 ms-1
 EXERCISE 2
• The motion of an object is described by an equation
𝜋𝑡
𝑥 𝑡 = 0.5 cos
4
• Where x and t are in meter and t in second respectively. Find
i. The maximum displacement
ii. The frequency
iii. The position of that object at t = 0.6 s
iv. The velocity of that object at t = 0.6 s
v. The acceleration of that object at t = 0.6 s

Answer: 0.5 m, 0.125 Hz, 0.446 m, -0.1783 ms-1, -0.2748 ms-2

 FORCE FOR SHM
F = ma , but a = - ω2 x
• Hence;
F = m(-ω2 x)…….(1)

• Consider mass-spring system where restoring force

F = - kx……(2)
MASS-SPRING SYSTEM
 SIMPLE PENDULUM
𝐿
𝑇 = 2𝜋
𝑔
• The period for a simple pendulum
does not depend on the mass or
the initial angular displacement,
but depends only on the
length L of the string and the
value of the gravitational field
strength g,
 ENERGY IN SHM
• Kinetic energy and potential energy versus time for a simple harmonic oscillator
with φ = 0.
• Kinetic energy and potential energy versus position for a simple harmonic oscillator.
note that K + U = constant.
 ENERGY IN SHM
a) Potential Energy,
U = ½kx2
= ½k[A cos (ωt + Φ)]2...(1)
b) Kinetic Energy,
K = ½mv2
= ½m[- ωA sin (ωt + Φ)]2..(2)
c) Conservation of Mechanical Energy;

E=U+K,
(1) + (2) can be simplified to
E = ½kA2
 EXAMPLE 4
• A spring of unknown spring constant is attached with a weight of mass 0.20
kg. When it is released from rest, the spring extends to a distance of 5 cm
before it stops. The weight is then pulled down 10 cm further downward and
then released. If the system oscillates with SHM, determine the
a) spring constant
b) period of oscillation and angular frequency
c) total energy of the system
d) the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the system at any time , t
 DEFINITION OF WAVE
• A periodic disturbance which travels through a medium or space.
• Types of waves
• Waves are classified into different types according to their nature.

WAVES

Mechanical waves Electromagnetic waves

Transverse waves Longitudinal waves Transverse waves

 1. MECHANICAL WAVES
• A material medium is necessary for the transmission for mechanical waves.
• Mechanical waves cannot travel through vacuum.
• Example = Water waves, sound, vibration of spring
• according to the direction of vibration, waves are also classified into
a. Transverse wave;
b. Longitudinal waves.
 TYPES OF WAVE
Longitudinal wave Transverse wave
• Particles of the medium move in a • Particles of the medium move in a
direction parallel to the direction which direction perpendicular to the direction
the wave moves which the wave moves
• Example: Soundwaves • Example: Water waves , Light waves,
Electromagnetic waves
 TERMINOLOGY OF A WAVE
• A wave is usually described by the following terms :
❖ Amplitude
❖ Wavelength (λ)
❖ Frequency (f)
❖ Period (T)
❖ Wave velocity (v)
❖ Wave profile [ Y (x, t)]
❖ Wave number ( k )
• The amplitude = maximum displacement of the medium from its equilibrium
position. Unit = meter
• The wavelength (λ) = minimum distance between two points which are in phase (2
crest or 2 trough). Unit = meter
• The frequency (ƒ) = number of complete oscillations made in one second. Unit :
Hz @ s-1
• The period (T) is the time taken for one complete oscillation. It is related to
frequency by T = 1/ƒ. Unit : s
 THE SPEED OF A WAVE, V
• = is the displacement traveled by the wave in one second
• The speed of wave (v) is related to frequency and wavelength by :-

𝑣 = 𝑓𝜆
 EXAMPLE 4:
• A travelling wave of wavelength 0.6m moves at a speed of 3.0 m/s. What is
the period of this wave ?

Now you know λ = 0.6 m, v = 3.0 m/s. Can you find the frequency of this wave……
By using the wave equation,
v = ƒλ
3.0 = ƒ(0.6)
ƒ = 5.0 Hz
Period;
T = 1/ƒ
T = 1/5.0 or 0.2 s
 WAVES TERMINOLOGY
• Wave profile

A = amplitude of the wave,

= the angular frequency of the wave
K = wave number = phase of motion at t = 0
Φ = k(x2-x1)

where, k = 2π/λ (wave number)

S.I. unit of wave number is m-1
Waves general equation
y = A sin ( ωt ± kx± Φ)
For sign of wave number (k) is
a) ‘+’ sign = refers to a wave that is moving in the negative x-direction
b) ‘-’ sign = refers to a wave moving in the positive x- direction
 EXAMPLE
• A wave has an amplitude of 0.25 m, a frequency of 1.0 × 106 Hz, and travels in the
positive x direction at the speed of light, 3.00 × 108 m/s. Write down the equations of
y (x,t) = A sin (ωt ± kx) to represents this wave?

Solution:
w = 2f = 2(1.0 × 106)
= 6.28 × 106 rad/s
v = f = 3.00 × 108 m/s
 = v/f = 3.00 × 108 / (1.0 × 106)
= 300 m
k= 2π/λ = 2/300 = 0.0209 m-1
travels in the positive x direction = negative (-) operation
y = 0.25 sin (6.28 × 106t − 0.0209x) meter
 EXAMPLE
The displacement of a vibrating string versus position along the string is shown
in the Figure . The periodic waves have a speed of 15.0 m/s. A and B are two
points on the string. Determine:
a) The amplitude of the wave?
b) The wavelength of the wave?
c) The frequency of the wave?
d) The difference in phase between the points A and B?
• Solution:
A = height of the peak = 4.0 m
λ = length of 1 completed wave
= 7.5-1.5 = 6.0 m
f=v/λ
= 15/6 = 2.5 Hz
phase difference AB, ϕ = k(x2-x1)
=2π/λ [10.5 - 4.5]
= 6.284 = 2π rad