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PHY 121 2 - Stroboscope

1. A stroboscope produces brief repetitive flashes of light at an adjustable frequency. When observed at a frequency matching an object's vibration, the object appears stationary. 2. There are four cases based on the relationship between the stroboscope frequency (fS) and the object's vibration frequency (fA): (1) fS = fA results in a stationary pattern, (2) fS = 2fA results in a double pattern, (3) fA slightly greater than fS results in clockwise motion, (4) fA slightly less than fS results in counterclockwise motion. 3. Multiple stationary patterns can occur when fS = nfA/m, where n and

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76 views10 pages

PHY 121 2 - Stroboscope

1. A stroboscope produces brief repetitive flashes of light at an adjustable frequency. When observed at a frequency matching an object's vibration, the object appears stationary. 2. There are four cases based on the relationship between the stroboscope frequency (fS) and the object's vibration frequency (fA): (1) fS = fA results in a stationary pattern, (2) fS = 2fA results in a double pattern, (3) fA slightly greater than fS results in clockwise motion, (4) fA slightly less than fS results in counterclockwise motion. 3. Multiple stationary patterns can occur when fS = nfA/m, where n and

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Christopher Ndambo
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© © All Rights Reserved
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2.

Stroboscope
STROBOSCOPE
• Definition: A stroboscope is an instrument used for studying periodic
motion or determining speeds of rotation by shining a bright light at
intervals so that a moving or rotating object appears stationary
• Normally, it consists of a lamp which produces brief repetitive
flashes of light at a particular frequency
STROBOSCOPE

• Normally, a stroboscope consists of a lamp which produces brief


repetitive flashes of light at a frequency
• The rate of the stroboscope is adjustable to different frequencies
Thus, when a vibrating object is observed with the stroboscope at a
frequency of its vibration (or multiple of it) it appears stationery
• Therefore, stroboscope is also used to measure frequency of
vibrating or oscillating objects
What is the relationship between the stroboscope
frequency (𝑓𝑆) and the object’s vibrating frequency (𝑓𝐴)?
• Consider an arrow painted on a disc and that the disc is
attached to a motor which can rotate at a given frequency

• Suppose that the frequency of rotation of the arrow is 𝑓𝐴 and


that of stroboscope is 𝑓𝑆. Then 4 cases arises based on the
relationship between 𝑓𝐴 and 𝑓𝑆 :
Case #1: if 𝒇𝑺 = 𝒇𝑨
1 1 1 1
𝑓S = and 𝑓A = . Then 𝑓S = 𝑓𝐴 implies that =
TS TA TS TA
Therefore TS=T𝐴
Therefore, we observe a single stationery arrow

1
In general, we get a single stationery pattern when TS = nT𝐴 or 𝑓S = 𝑓𝐴
n
where n is an integer
NB: TS is the time that elapses between two consecutive flashes (period of
stroboscope) AND
T𝐴 is time for one complete arrow rotation (period of arrow)
Case #2: if 𝒇𝑺 = 2𝒇𝑨
1 1 1 1
Since 𝑓S = , then TS = . Similarly 𝑓A = then TA =
TS 𝑓S T𝐴 𝑓A
1 1
Given 𝑓S=2𝑓𝐴 implies = .
𝑓S 2 𝑓𝐴
1 1 1
Therefore, 𝑇S = ∗ , giving 𝑇S = TA .
2 𝑓𝐴 2
Therefore, the stroboscope flashes twice as fast as the arrow. Hence we
observe a double stationery arrow pattern

n 2
In general, we get a double arrow pattern if TS = T or 𝑓S = 𝑓𝐴.
2 𝐴 n
where 𝑛 is an odd integer (1, 3, 5, 7, …)
Case #3: if 𝒇𝑨 is slightly greater than 𝒇𝑺
1 1 1 1
Thus 𝑓𝐴 > 𝑓S , such that 𝑓𝐴 − 𝑓S ≪ 𝑓𝐴 . So, 𝑓A = > 𝑓S = → > .
T𝐴 TS T𝐴 TS
Therefore, T𝐴 < TS such that T𝐴 − TS ≪ T𝐴 .
The arrow would appear to be moving in clockwise direction, because the
stroboscope is slightly slower that the arrow’s rotation speed.

Q: What could be done, in this case, to make the arrow look stationery?

A: Increasing the stroboscope frequency slightly will make the arrow look
stationery.
Case #4: if 𝒇𝑨 is slightly less than 𝒇𝑺
1 1 1 1
Thus 𝑓S > 𝑓A , such that 𝑓S − 𝑓A ≪ 𝑓S . So, 𝑓S = > 𝑓A = → > .
TS TA TS TA
Therefore, TS < TA such that TS − TA ≪ TS .
The arrow would appear to be moving in anticlockwise direction, because the
stroboscope is slightly faster that the arrow’s rotation speed.

Q: What could be done, in this case, to make the arrow look stationery?

A: Reducing the stroboscope frequency slightly will make the arrow look
stationery.
Example 1:
Suppose that 𝑓𝐴 = 100 𝐻𝑧 and 𝑓𝑆 = 125 𝐻𝑧. What stroboscopic
pattern will be observed?

Solution 1:
Lets find period of each frequency
1 1 1 1
Thus, TA = = Hz = 0.01 s and TS = = Hz = 0.008 s
𝑓𝐴 100 𝑓S 125

TS 0.008 s
So, = = 0.8
TA 0.01 s

Thus, TS = 0.8TA
4
→ TS = T𝐴
5

The arrow will move 4 times while the stroboscope will flash 5
times, hence, we will observe 5 stationary arrow pattern
Example 2:
Given a 3 arrow pattern. What is the relationship between the
Solution 2: frequencies of the arrow and the stroboscope?
periods and
n
For 3 arrow pattern, the period relationship is TS = T𝐴 , where
3
n is never a multiple of 3 to avoid one arrow pattern

1
But, 𝑓S =
TS
n 1 1 1 3 1
Since TS = T𝐴 , then 𝑓S = = ∗ = ∗
3 n
3
TA n
3
TA n TA

3
Thus 𝑓S = 𝑓A where 𝑛 =1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, etc
n

Exercise:
Suppose that the arrow is rotating at 𝑓𝐴 = 100 𝐻𝑧. What pattern
would be seen if 𝑓𝑆 = 25 𝐻𝑧 is the frequency of a stroboscope
flash light?

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