2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)

2020 H2 PHYSICS REVISION NOTES: OSCILLATIONS (SHM)

1.1 Simple Harmonic Motion

The motion of an object is described as simple harmonic motion when its
acceleration:

 has a magnitude directly proportional to the displacement from its equilibrium position
 and is always oppositely directed to its displacement.

The defining equation is hence:

a  x
where a is the acceleration and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position.

As a result, the restoring force F (F = ma) on the object is directly proportional to its
displacement x from equilibrium position and is always directed towards the equilibrium
position.

1.2 General Equation of Simple Harmonic Motion

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2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)

1.3 Equations of Simple Harmonic Motion

Acceleration : a = - 2 x where:
Displacement : x = ± xo sin t
(for the initial conditions x = 0 when t = 0)
OR Displacement from eqm position: x
Displacement : x = ± xo cos t Amplitude: xo
(for the initial conditions x = xo when t = 0) Angular frequency :  = 2f = 2/T rad s-1)

Velocity : v = dx/dt Frequency : f

Period : T
= ± xo cos t
(for the initial conditions x = 0 when t = 0)
Alternative form (when time is unknown):
Velocity :v =   (xo2 - x2)
(Given in formula sheet.)
Potential energy of simple harmonic Potential energy of simple harmonic
oscillator with respect to displacement, x : oscillator with respect to time, t :
EP = Etotal  EK EP = ½ mω2x2
1 1
EP  m 2 x02  m 2 ( x02  x 2 ) Substituting x = ± xo sin t
2 2

Kinetic energy of simple harmonic oscillator Kinetic energy of simple harmonic

with respect to displacement, x : oscillator with respect to time, t :
EK = ½ mv2 EK = ½ mv2
Substituting v2 = ω2(xo2 – x2) Substituting v = ± xo cos t

Total energy of simple harmonic oscillator :

E = ½ m 2 xo2 = ½ k xo2 = constant
when there are no dissipative forces (eg. Damping)
where k = force per unit displacement or force constant of the elastic system of mass m.
Period of different harmonic oscillators (not required to remember!)
Period of a mass-spring system :
T = 2 (m/k)
Period of a simple pendulum :
T = 2 (L/g)

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2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)

1.4 Graphs of Simple Harmonic Motion

Graph of Acceleration a against Displacement x Graph of Force F against Displacement x

Graph of Velocity v against Displacement x

Graph of Total Energy Etotal, Potential Energy, Graph of Total Energy Etotal, Potential Energy, Ep
Ep and Kinetic Energy Ek against Time, t and Kinetic Energy Ek against Displacement x

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2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)

1.5 Damped Oscillations

In real life, the amplitude of oscillations do not remain constant but gradually become smaller and
smaller. Dissipative forces, such as friction, convert the mechanical energy of the system to thermal
energy. Consequently, the mechanical energy of the system diminishes in time. Oscillations that die
away due to dissipative forces are known as damped oscillations.

Damping is the process whereby energy is taken from the oscillating system, and the amplitude
decreases with time.

3 types of damping:
 Underdamping (or Light damping)
 Critical damping
 Overdamping (or Heavy damping)

Note: Damping not only affects the amplitude, but also reduces
the frequency (or increases the period) !.

Applications of critical damping:

Without damping, the vehicle would oscillate in a vertical plane long after the first bump. ‘Shock absorbers’
are fitted to the suspension springs to quickly damp the vibrations when a car goes over a bump which
could make a ride uncomfortable and the car difficult to control.

A good suspension is one which is critically damped – the oscillation stops in the shortest time.
Underdamping leads to a large number of oscillations. An overdamped shock absorbing system would still
have a compressed spring by the time another bump is reached and so would not be able to respond to
further bumps.

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2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)
A Comparison Of the Different Kinds of Damping

Description x-t graph Displacement Period

free to oscillate without

Free oscillation Amplitude remains constant.
any energy dissipation Remains
(Since total energy does not
or energy input constant.
decrease with time.)

Underdamping makes a few

Period increases
(or light oscillations before Amplitude decreases
with increased
damping) coming to rest exponentially with time.
damping.

system returns to its

equilibrium position in
Critical Reaches zero very quickly, No oscillation.
the shortest possible
damping but never becomes negative. No period.
time without any
oscillation

Overdamping system takes a long

Takes a very long time to No oscillation.
(or heavy time to return to its
reach zero. No period.
damping) equilibrium position

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2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)

1.6 Forced oscillations and Resonance

 Natural Frequency, fo
o Every system has it own frequency.
o The frequency with which a system will oscillate freely on its own is called its natural
frequency, fo.
o It is the frequency of free oscillation of a system.

 When a periodic driving force is applied to an oscillating system, the system no longer oscillates at
its natural frequency.

 Its response depends on the frequency of the periodic driving force, known as the driving frequency.

1. If the driving frequency is not equal to the natural frequency of the system, energy is fed in
for a few cycles, then taken out again for a few cycles and so on. This causes the amplitude
to build up for a while, then becomes smaller for a while, then build up again, etc..

2. The periodic driving force provides a means of supplying energy to the system. Only if the
driving frequency equals the natural frequency of the system, then the energy supplied
can be taken in over many cycles. In other words, energy is fed continuously into the system
so that the amplitude can build up more and more. This phenomenon whereby an
oscillating system responds with maximum amplitude to a periodic driving force is
known as resonance.

Resonance is said to occur when the driving frequency is equal to the natural
frequency of the oscillator, and the amplitude of the forced oscillation will be a
maximum. There is maximum energy transfer from the driving force to the oscillating
system.

The frequency response graph of a system undergoing forced oscillations

Observations:

 For an undamped oscillation, as the driving frequency approaches the natural frequency f o,
 Amplitude increases

 As the degree of damping increases,

 Amplitude decrease (flatter curve)
 Period of oscillation increases and hence the resonant frequency decreases (since f = 1/T)
 Resonant peak shifts to the left

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2020 CJC H2 Physics Revision Package – Oscillations (Notes)

Applications of Resonance

 Examples of Resonance which are destructive:

o Resonance of bridges due to strong gusts of wind can lead to their collapse.

o In earthquakes, buildings are often made to vibrate in resonation to seismic waves, causing
them to collapse.

 Examples of Useful Resonance:

o A diver times his bounces on a spring-board so as to build up a large amplitude oscillation.

o The phenomenon of molecular resonance is used in the cooking of food using microwaves.

o Radio-wave reception as in the electrical resonance used in radio circuits tuning.

o Resonance is responsible for the production of sound in many musical instruments.