Lecture 4 Phys 3750

Normal Mode Coordinates / Initial Value Problem

Overview and Motivation: We continue to look at the coupled-oscillator problem.

We extend our analysis of this problem by introducing functions known as normal-
mode coordinates. These coordinates make the coupled-oscillator problem simple
because they transform the coupled equations of motion into two uncoupled
equations of motion. Using the normal modes, we then solve the general initial-value
problem for this system.

Key Mathematics: We gain experience with linear transformations and initial value
problems.

I. Normal Mode Solutions

A. Summary from Last Lecture
The problem that we studied last time is shown in the following diagram. There are
two objects, each with mass m and three springs. The springs on the ends have
spring constant k s and the one in the center has spring constant k s′ .

ks m m ks
k s′

q1 q2

q1 = 0 q2 = 0

Last time we found the two normal-mode solutions, which can be written as

 q1 (t )  1
 (
 =   A1e iΩ1t + B1e −iΩ1t ) (1)
 q 2 (t )1 1

and

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 q1 (t )  1
  =  ( A2 e iΩ 2t + B2 e −iΩ 2t ) , (2)
 q 2 (t ) 2  − 1

where Ω1 = ω~ and Ω 2 = ω~ 2 + 2ω~′ 2 are the normal-mode frequencies of oscillation.

As we will show below, any solution to this problem can be written as a linear
combination of these two normal modes. Thus, we can write the most general
solution to this problem as

 q1 (t )  1 1
  =  ( A1e iΩ1t + B1e −iΩ1t ) +  ( A2 e iΩ 2t + B2 e −iΩ 2t ) (3)
 q 2 (t ) 1  − 1

B. Normal Mode Coordinates

Let's now consider the following linear transformation1 of the displacements q1 (t )
and q2 (t ) ,

 Q1 (t )   12 1
 q1 (t ) 
  =  1 2
 . (4)
 Q2 (t )  2 −  q 2 (t )
1
2

Calculating the rhs of Eq. (4) produces2

 Q1 (t )  1  q1 (t ) + q 2 (t )
  =   . (5)
 Q2 (t ) 2  q1 (t ) − q 2 (t )

Written more pedantically, we have

q1 (t ) + q2 (t )
Q1 (t ) = (6a)
2

and

q1 (t ) − q 2 (t )
Q2 (t ) = . (6b)
2

For reasons that will soon become apparent, the functions Q1 (t ) and Q2 (t ) are known

1 Any linear transformation of an N -vector can be represented as lhs multiplication of that vector by an
N × N matrix.
2 Note that the normal-mode coordinate Q2 as defined here is the negative of Q2 as defined in Dr. Torre’s
text FWP. We define it here with this change so as to be more consistent with the later treatment of N
coupled oscillators. To be honest, it also makes some of the equations look prettier!

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as normal-mode coordinates. (Why aren't they called normal-mode functions?

Don't ask me!)

Let's now apply the linear transformation in Eq. (4) to the rhs of Eq. (3) and see what
it tells us. Applying the transformation and equating the result to the lhs of Eq. (4)
yields

 Q1 (t )   1   0
  =  ( A1e iΩ1t + B1e −iΩ1t ) +  ( A2 e iΩ 2t + B2 e −iΩ 2t ) . (7)
 Q2 (t )  0  1

This equation may look complicated, but, in fact, it is very simple. It says that Q1 (t )
harmonically oscillates at the first normal-mode frequency Ω1 and that Q2 (t )
harmonically oscillates at the second normal-mode frequency Ω 2 . Pretty cool! In fact,
if Eq. (3) is the general solution to this problem (more on this below), Eq. (7) say that
no matter what the motion, the sum q1 (t ) + q 2 (t ) always oscillates at Ω1 , and the
difference q1 (t ) − q2 (t ) always oscillates at Ω 2 .

C. Equations of Motion
Let's now go back to the coupled equations of motion,

q&&1 + ω~ 2 q1 + ω~′2 (q1 − q2 ) = 0 (8a)

and

q&&2 + ω~ 2 q2 + ω~′2 (q2 − q1 ) = 0 , (8b)

and see what happens if we write them in terms of the normal-mode coordinates
Q1 (t ) and Q2 (t ) . To do that we need the inverse of the transformation in Eq. (4).
Using
−1
 12 1
 1 1 
 1 2

1
=   (9)
2 − 2 1 − 1

(make sure that you understand this!) we apply this inverse transformation to Eq. (4),
which gives us (after switching the rhs and lhs)

 q1 (t )   Q1 (t ) + Q2 (t )
  =   . (10)
 q 2 (t )  Q1 (t ) − Q2 (t )

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That is, q1 (t ) = Q1 (t ) + Q2 (t ) and q 2 (t ) = Q1 (t ) − Q2 (t ) . Substituting these results into Eq.

(8) produces

Q && + ω~ 2 (Q + Q ) + 2ω~′2Q = 0
&& + Q (11a)
1 2 1 2 2

and

Q && + ω~ 2 (Q − Q ) − 2ω~′2Q = 0 .
&& − Q (11b)
1 2 1 2 2

Looks pretty ugly, eh? Well , it is about to get much simpler. If we take the sum and
difference of Eqs. (11a) and (11b) we get the following two equations,

&& + ω~ 2Q = 0
Q (12a)
1 1

and

&& + (ω~ 2 + 2ω~′2 )Q = 0 .

Q (12b)
2 2

First, notice that these two equations are uncoupled: the equation of motion for Q1
doesn't depend upon Q2 and vice-versa. Furthermore, you should now able to
recognize each of these equations as the equation of motion for a single harmonic
oscillator! Thus, Eq. (12a) tells us that Q1 harmonically oscillates at ω~ ( = Ω1 ), and Eq.
(12b) tells us that Q2 harmonically oscillates at ω~ 2 + 2ω~′2 ( = Ω 2 ). Of course, this is
exactly what was expressed earlier by Eq. (7).

We can also infer something very important from this transformation. Because the
normal coordinates are governed by Eq. (12), which is simply an harmonic oscillator
equation for each coordinate, we know that the general solution for Q1 (t ) and Q2 (t ) is
given by Eq. (7). Thus, the general solution for q1 (t ) and q2 (t ) is given by the inverse
transformation of Eq. (7), which is simply Eq. (3). This proves that the general
solution for q1 (t ) and q2 (t ) is, indeed, a linear combination of the normal mode
coordinates Q1 (t ) and Q2 (t ) . This is a general result that we will use throughout the
course.

II. Initial Value Problem

Let's now solve the initial-value problem for the coupled-oscillator system. That is,
we want to write Eq. (3), the general solution to the coupled oscillator problem, in
terms of the initial conditions q1 (0) , q&1 (0 ) , q 2 (0) , and q& 2 (0) (which are all real
quantities).

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Now Eq. (3),

 q1 (t )  1 1
  =  ( A1e iΩ1t + B1e −iΩ1t ) +  ( A2 e iΩ 2t + B2 e −iΩ 2t ) , (3)
 q 2 (t ) 1  − 1

uses the complex form of the harmonic oscillator solution. Looking back on p. 8 of
the Lecture 2 notes, we see that we have three choices about how to deal with making
the IVP solution real. Let's use the first approach and make Eq. (3) manifestly real by
setting B1 = A1* and B2 = A2* . Then we have

 q1 (t )  1
 ( ) 1
(
 =   A1eiΩ1t + A1*e − iΩ1t +   A2eiΩ 2 t + A2*e − iΩ 2 t . ) (13)
 q2 (t ) 1  − 1

This expression is real because each term in parenthesis is the sum of a complex
number and its complex conjugate. To rewrite Eq. (13) in a form that is explicitly real
we use the relationship

( )
Aeix + A*e −ix = 2 Re Aeix = 2[Re( A) cos( x ) − Im( A)sin ( x )], (14)

so that Eq. (13) becomes

 q1 (t )   1 1
  = 2 [Re( A1 )cos(Ω1t ) − Im( A1 )sin (Ω1t )] + 2 [Re( A2 )cos(Ω 2t ) − Im( A2 )sin (Ω 2t )] . (15)
 q2 (t )  1  − 1

We now apply the initial conditions to Eq. (15), which gives us

 q1 (0 )   1 1
  = 2   Re( A1 ) + 2   Re( A2 ) , (16)
 q 2 (0 )  1  − 1

and

 q&1 (0 )   1 1
  = −2Ω1   Im( A1 ) − 2Ω 2   Im( A2 ) . (17)
 q& 2 (0 )  1  − 1

The easiest way to solve for the four unknowns [ Re( A) , Im( A) , Re(C ) , and Im(C ) ] is
1 1

to apply the normal-mode transformation  12 2 1  to each side of these two
2 − 2
equations, which produces

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1  q1 (0 ) + q 2 (0 ) 1 0
  = 2   Re( A1 ) + 2   Re( A2 ) , (18)
2  q1 (0) − q 2 (0 )  0 1

and

1  q&1 (0 ) + q& 2 (0 ) 1  0

  = − 2Ω 1   Im( A1 ) − 2Ω 2   Im( A2 ) . (19)
2  q&1 (0 ) − q& 2 (0 ) 0 1

From these last two equations we immediately see that

q1 (0) + q2 (0)
Re( A1 ) = , (20a)
4

q&1 (0) + q&2 (0)

Im( A1 ) = − , (20b)
4Ω1

q1 (0) − q2 (0)
Re( A2 ) = , and (20c)
4

q&2 (0) − q&1 (0)

Im( A2 ) = . (20d)
4Ω 2

If we now substitute Eq. (20) into Eq. (15) we finally obtain the solution to the IVP,

 q1 (t )  1 1  q& (0 ) + q& 2 (0 )  

  =  [q1 (0 ) + q 2 (0 )]cos(Ω1t ) +  1  sin (Ω1t )
 q 2 (t ) 2 1  Ω1  
. (21)
1  1   q&1 (0 ) − q& 2 (0 ) 
+  [q1 (0 ) − q 2 (0 )]cos(Ω 2 t ) +   sin (Ω 2 t )
2  − 1   Ω2  

The graphs on the following page illustrate the motion that results for two sets of
initial conditions. For both graphs m = 1 , k s = 1 , and k s′ = 1 (so that Ω1 = 1 and
Ω 2 = 3 ). In the top graph q1 (0 ) = 1 , q2 (0 ) = −1 , q&1 (0 ) = 0 , and q& 2 (0 ) = 0 . What special
motion is this? In the second graph the initial conditions are q1 (0) = 1 , q2 (0) = 0 ,
q&1 (0 ) = 0 , and q& 2 (0 ) = 0 . This motion is quite complicated. In fact, it is not even
periodic: it never repeats, even though the normal-mode coordinates are simply
harmonically oscillating at their respective frequencies. The nonrepetitive nature of
the motion occurs because (in this example) the ratio is of the two normal-mode
frequencies is not a rational number.

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2
q1(T)
DISPLACEMENT q2(T)
1

1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

TIME

2
q1(T)
DISPLACEMENT

q2(T)
1

1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

TIME

Exercises
1 1 
*4.1 Apply the inverse transformation   to Eq. (7) to recover Eq. (3).
1 −1

*4.2 Assuming q1 (0) = 0 and q2 (0) = 0 , find the general condition on the initial
velocities q&1 (0 ) and q& 2 (0 ) that results in only the first normal mode being excited.

*4.3 Assuming q1 (0) = 0 and q2 (0) = 0 , find the general condition on the initial
velocities q&1 (0 ) and q& 2 (0 ) that results in only the second normal mode being excited.

**4.4 The general solution to the two-coupled oscillator problem can alternatively be
expressed in terms of real quantities as

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 q1 (t )  1 1
  =  [A cos(Ω1t ) + B sin (Ω1t )] +  [C cos(Ω 2t ) + D sin (Ω 2t )]
 q2 (t ) 1  − 1

Starting with this form of the general solution find the (real) parameters A , B , C , and
D in terms of the initial conditions q1 (0 ) , q&1 (0 ) , q 2 (0 ) , and q& 2 (0 ) . Check to see that
your solution agrees with Eq. (21).

*4.5 Use Euler’s relation to derive Eq. (14).

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