1.1 LAB 1: Free oscillations of systems with one degree of freedom THEMES: © Different oscillation regimes # Critical resistance © Logarithmic decrement © Quality factor 1.1.1 Mechanical system with one degree of freedom: ‘The different oscillation regimes: Figure 1.1 represents the simplest mechanical system with one degree of freedom: k m a Sng TS _— Figure 1.1 The displacement of the mass m relative to its equilibrium position, called elongation, is denoted 2. The spring constant is k. a is the damping coefficient. We give the mass a given initial elongation Xo (and/or an initial speed Vj) and let the system evolving with no external excitation. This is the damped simple harmonic motion. ‘The displacement of m obeys to the following differential equation: mi + ak + ks (1.1) which can be put in the normalized form B+ 26% + whe (1.2) where =1.1. LAB 1: FREE OSCILLATIONS OF SYSTEMS WITH ONE DEGREE OF FREEDOM 5 = : damping factor ay = 1/E sthe system angular frequency of an undamped oscillator. More generally, the evolution over time of any free system with one degree of freedom can be reduced to an equation of the same type as (2). ‘The solution to this equation is cartied out by looking for solutions of the form Ae""P,(t), where r is a complex number and P,(t) is a polynomial of degree n. We show that, except in the case where r = —d (double roots), the polynomial P,(#) reduces to a constant. By replacing by Ae" in equation (2), we obtain the characteristic equation: 1425 +3 =0 (13) whose roots ar na=-6+ VP ‘The solution will therefore be a combination of the two roots x(t) = Ae™ + Be™ (14) ‘Three cases are possible depending up on the sign of the discriminant =P 02 © Ist case: A’ >0 6 > uy The roots r; and ry are then real and negative. The solution is a combination of two decreasing exponentials. The elongation decreases over time until it disappears. This is the so-called aperiodic regime. It corresponds to a high coefficient of friction. © 2nd case: A’ = 0.95 = wn We obtain two equal roots r; = ry = 6. In this case, the solution takes the following form: x(t) = (at + be (1.5) It corresponds to the so-called "critical regime in which the system returns to its equilibrium position as quickly as possible without exceeding it, i.e. without oscillation. The critical damping is given ae = 20k (1.6)1.1. LAB 1: FREE OSCILLATIONS OF SYSTEMS WITH ONE DEGREE OF FREEDOM © 3rd case: A’ <0 6 < wy ‘The roots r; and rp are, in this case, complex: nia = bj Vue — F with 7? = and the solution becomes: a(t) = (Ae VEF 4 Be IVF (1.7) The term in parentheses being a combination of two sinusoids of the same frequency, it can itself be written in the form of a sinusoid: a(t) = Ce“® cos(wat + y) (18) with w, = ui — 6 : is the angular frequency of the damped oscillator. It is the expression of a sinusoid whose amplitude decreases exponentially with time. Tt corresponds to low damping, ‘The three possible regimes are summarized in Figure 1.2. Figure 1.2: The damped harmonic oscillator: If we assume that the system is released without velocity from an initial elongation Xo, show that the solution is written as: «(t) = Xp#te~ cos(wat +) 3LI. LAB 1: FREE OSCILLATIONS OF SYSTEMS WITH ONE DEGREE OF FREEDOM with: cosy = 2 If the damping is low, 5 << wo and then w ¥ up, we get: a(t) = Xp cos(wyt) The ratio D = LLog #4, is called logarithmic decrement , where T = 2 is the period. It can also be written as :D = 67. It characterizes the degree of damping. The lower the damping, the smaller D is compared to 27. Another quantity allow us to define the degree of damping. This is the quality factor of system. This quantity, called Q, of more general use than the decrement D, is defined by: Q = 25 expression which becomes, in the case of low damping, Q=B=5 ‘A high quality factor means that the system is poorly damped. 1.1.2 Oscillating electrical circuit: Let us now consider the RLC electrical circuit in Figure 1.3. ‘The capacitor being previously charged, the circuit is closed. The evolution of the intensity i of the electric current is described by the equation (1.9). Figure 1.3: & 1 LE +Ri+G / idt (1.9) By introducing the electric charge q(t) of the capacitor, we have Lg+Ri+ (1.10) et 5 = # and uf + We get1.1. LAB 1: FREE OSCILLATIONS OF SYSTEMS WITH ONE DEGREE OF FREEDOM G+ 269+ wig =0 (1.11) This equation is analogous to equation (2). Its solution can be, depending on the value given to R (if L is constant), aperiodic, critical or oscillatory. ‘The results obtained previously for the mechanical system are also valid here. 1.1.3. Practical realization: ‘The device studied is a series RLC circuit made up of a variable resistor (decade boxes 1000, 100, x10 ), an unknown induetion coil L and a capacitor of known capacity C. The circuit is powered by a square signal e(¢) delivered by a function generator (LFG) and of sufficiently low frequency compared to the natural frequency of the system. This allows us to observe the system free regime. Indeed, let ey be the amplitude of the square signal. Thus we have e(t) = +éo for half a period and e(t) = -e during the next half-period. The charge q at the bounds of the capacitor then obeys the equation La+ Ro+ a (1.12) Taking Q = q+ Ceo, we have 16+nQ+8 0 (1.13) Then, Q+26Q +usiQ=0 (1.44) and taking Vo = we get Vz + 26V. + wav. (1.15) which well represents the free movement of the system. The solution Q(t) tends asymp- totically towards 0, the charge q(t) will tend towards the value +Ceo, Note: Some types of LFG deliver a non-alternating square wave, i.e. e(t) is equal to e for one half-period and 0 for the next half-period. The above equations must therefore be modified accordingly.1.1, LAB 1: FREE OSCILLATIONS OF SYSTEMS WITH ONE DEGREE OF FREEDOM Experimental device ‘The function generator (LFG) having a non-negligible internal resistance (generally of 50 ©), we use a dividing bridge to obtain between points A and B, a generator of low internal resistance. The signal Vz delivered between A and B is observed on channel ics Figure 1.4: Y; of the oscilloscope. Observation of different regimes The voltage Vo(t) across C is sent to channel ¥3 of the oscilloscope. — Observe the evolution of the form of Vo(t) when we vary the resistance from a large to a small value. — Compare the asymptotic value of Vo(t) to the predicted value. — Measure the critical resistance Re, value of R for which we obtain the critical regime, that is to say that for which we move from the oscillating regime to the aperiodic regime.A precise value is generally impossible. We will therefore propose the narrowest possible range for Ro. — Deduce a value of the inductance L of the coil ‘The damped oscillatory regime ‘The resistance R being fixed at zero, the damping is ensured by the other resistances present in the circuit (generator, coil, connections, contacts).1.1. LAB I: FREE OSCILLATIONS OF SYSTEMS WITH ONE DEGREE OF FREEDOM = Measure the logarithmic decrement D as well as the period T of the oscillations with the maximum of precision. — Deduce the damping factor 6. = Deduce the value of the inductance L and that of the sum of the resistances present in the circuit with the corresponding uncertainties, — Compare L to the value obtained from the measurement of Re.