Oscillations

DESIGNED

By

Edustudy point
Periodic and Oscillatory motions:
• Oscillations are defined as to and fro motion which repeat itself after regular intervals of time. In
oscillations, the frequency of vibrations is comparatively less.

For example: The to and fro motion of a pendulum clock

• Every oscillatory motion is periodic motion that is every oscillatory motion repeats itself after the
fixed interval of time. But every periodic motion is not oscillatory.
For e.g.:- Motion of planets around the sun is periodic but is not oscillatory motion.

Period: The time taken by an oscillating body to complete one cycle of oscillation.
• It is denoted by T.

• Its SI unit is second.

Frequency: It is defined as number of cycles per second.

• It is denoted by ν.

• Its SI unit is sec-1.

• Special Unit is Hertz(Hz)

Relation between Period and Frequency:

ν = 1/T where ν = number of cycles in 1 second

T = 1 cycle

Displacement: Displacement in periodic motion can be represented by a function which is periodic which
repeats after fixed interval of time.

f (t) = A cos ωt

As cosine function repeats after 2π so it can be written as

cos (ωt) = cos (ωt + 2π) …Equation (1)

Let Time Period = T

f (T) = f(t+T) where displacement keeps on repeating after (t+T)

Acos (ωt) = cosω(t+T) = Acos (ωt+ wT)

Acosωt = A cos (ωt+ωT) …Equation (2)

From Equation (1) and Equation (2)

T=2π /ω
Displacement as a combination of sin and cos functions
f (t) = A sin ωt + A cos ωt

LetA = D cosΦ B = D sinΦ

f (t) = DcosΦ sinωT + DsinΦ cos ωt

=D (cosΦ sinωT + sinΦ cos ωt)

f (t) = D sin (ωt + Φ) (Using sinAcosB + sinBcosA = sin (A+B))

D in terms of A and B:-

tan Φ = B/A

Or Φ= tan-1 B/A

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM): It is a periodic motion the body moves to and fro about its mean
position. The restoring force on the oscillating body is directly proportional to its displacement and is
always directed towards its mean position.

Oscillatory motion is said to be SHM if the displacement x of the particle from origin varies with time t:

x (t) = A cos (ωt + Φ)

A= amplitude (It is defined as magnitude of maximum displacement of the particle from its mean position.)

ωt +Φ = phase angle (time-dependent)

Phase: It is that quantity that determines the state of motion of the particle.

• Its value is (ωt + Φ)

• It is dependent on time.

Let x (t) = A cos (ωt) where we are taking (Φ = 0)

Mean Position (t= 0)

x (0) = A cos (0) = A (cos0=1)

t=T/4, t= T/2, t=3T/4, t=T and t=5T/4

In the given graph the displacement as a function of time

is obtained when φ = 0. The curves (1) and (2) are of two
different amplitudes A and B.
In the above graph the curves (3) and (4) are for φ = 0 and
-π/4 respectively but the amplitude is same for both.

Angular Frequency (ω): It refers to the angular displacement per unit time. Angular frequency is larger
than frequency ν by a factor of 2π.

Consider the oscillatory motion which is varying with time t and displacement x of the particle from the
origin:

ω = 2π/ T

SHM & Uniform Circular Motion: Uniform Circular motion can be interpreted as a SHM.
Consider any particle moving in a circular path whose radius is R Angular velocity is w

Angular position =∫θ dt

=wt + φ

Consider the projection of particle on x-axis be P’. circular motion

Displacement = Acosθ

x =A cos(wt+ φ)

As the particle is moving in the same way the projections are also moving.

• We can conclude that the particle is swinging from left to right and
again from right to left.

• SHM is the projection of uniform circular motion on the diameter of the

circle in which the SHM takes place.

Velocity in SHM: Uniform Circular motion can be defined as motion of an object in a circle at a
constant speed.

• Consider a particle moving in circular path. The velocity at any point P at

any time t will be tangential to the point P.

v (t) = - A w sin(wt + φ)

Acceleration in SHM: Acceleration in uniform circular motion always directed towards the centre. It is
known as radial acceleration.

a (t) = - ω2A cos (ωt + φ)

In all the below graphs displacement, velocity and acceleration all have the same time period T, but they
differ in phase.

The acceleration is maximum where velocity is minimum and vice-versa.

Energy in SHM: The Kinetic and Potential energies in a SHM varies between 0 and their maximum
values.

Kinetic energy, potential energy and the total energy is a function of time in the above graph. BothKinetic
energy and potential energy repeats after time T/2.

• The kinetic energy (K) of a particle executing SHM can be

defined as

K = ½ mv2

= ½ mω2A2sin2 (ωt + φ)

K = ½ k A2 sin2 (ωt + φ)

• The potential energy (U) of a particle executing SHM is,

U(x) = ½ kx2

U = ½ k A2 cos2 (ωt + φ)

• Total energy of the system always remains the same

E=U+K

= ½ k A2 sin2 (ωt + φ) + ½ k A2 cos2 (ωt + φ)

E = ½ k A2(sin2 (ωt + φ) + cos2 (ωt + φ))

=
E ½ k A2 Total energy is always constant.

Oscillations due to spring: Consider a block if it is pulled on one side and is released, and then it
executes to and fro motion about a mean position.
 F (x) = –k x

• k is known as spring constant.

𝑘
ω = √
𝑚

𝑘
• T = 2π√ where T is the period.
𝑚

Simple Pendulum: A simple pendulum is defined as an object that has a small mass, which is suspended
from a wire.

• Simple pendulum can be set into oscillatory motion by pulling it to one

side of equilibrium position and then releasing it.

𝑚𝑔𝐿
ω = √
𝐼

𝐼 𝐿
T = 2π√ OR T = 2π√
𝑚𝑔𝐿 𝑔

Damped SHM: It can be stated as motion in which amplitude of the oscillating body reduces and
eventually comes to its mean position.

• Dissipating forces cause damping.

• Consider a pendulum which is oscillating

• After some time we can observe that its displacement starts decreasing and finally it comes to rest.

• This implies that there is some resistive force which opposes the motion of the pendulum. This type of
SHM is known as Damped SHM.

Damping Force: It opposes the motion of the body.

• Magnitude of damping force is proportional to the velocity of the body.

• It acts in the opposite direction of the velocity.

• Denoted by Fd where d is the damping force.

Fd= -b v where b is a damping constant and it depends on characteristics of the

medium (viscosity, for example) and the size and shape of the block.

Equation for Damped oscillations: Consider a pendulum which is oscillating. It will experience two forces

1. Restoring force Fs = -k x

2. Damping Force Fd = -b v

The total force Ftotal = Fs + Fd = -k x – b v

Let a (t) = acceleration of the block

Ftotal= m a (t)

-k x – b v = md2x/dt2

m d2x/dt2 + kx + b dx/dt=0

x(t) = A e–bt/2m cos (ω′t + φ ) (Equation of damped oscillations)

𝒌 𝒃𝟐
angular frequency, ω ′= √ −
𝒎 𝟒𝒎𝟐

x (t) = cos (ω′t + φ) ( Equation of Simple Harmonic motion)

Free Oscillations: - In these types of oscillations the amplitude and time period remain constant it does
not change. This means there is no damping. But in real scenario there is no system which has constant
amplitude and time period.

Forced Oscillations: - If we apply some external force to keep oscillations continue such oscillations
are known as forced oscillations. In forced oscillations the system oscillates not with natural frequency but
with the external frequency.

Example: when a child in a garden swing periodically presses his feet against the ground to maintain the
oscillations.

Resonance: -The phenomenon of increase in amplitude when the driving force is close to the natural
frequency of the oscillatoris called resonance.

If an external force with angular frequency ωd acts on an oscillating system with natural angular frequency
ω, the system oscillates with angular frequency ωd. The amplitude of oscillations is the greatest when

ωd = ω

this expression is called resonance. Swings are very good example of resonance.

KHATAM