BRAIN

A-LEVEL MASTER
BMC CONNECT
PHYSICS

OSCILLATIONS

CLICK SUBCRIBE
BY: EMMANUEL FAITH IGWE
 OSCILLATION
Oscillation is the to and fro/forward and backward
motion of a body between two limits as a result of
energy supplied to the oscillating system.
Examples are
• a test-tube bobbing up and down in water
• a simple pendulum
• a vibrating spring with an attached mass
TERMINOLOGIES IN
OSCILLATION
 Terms used in oscillation
1. EQUILIBRIUM POSITION: a fixed position of an object
when not oscillating
2. DISPLACEMENT (x): the distance from a equilibrium or
fixed position.
3. AMPLITUDE (xmax): the maximum displacement of an
oscillator from the rest position.
4. FREQUENCY (f): the number of complete oscillations
per unit time. i.e
f = n/T (when n = 1)
f = 1/T (unit: Hertz/s-1)………………………………………….(i)
 Terms used in oscillation (Cont’d)

5. PERIOD (T): the time taken to complete one

oscillation/cycle. It’s given as
T = 1/f…………………………………(ii)
6. ANGULAR FREQUENCY (): This is the frequency of an
oscillatory motion expressed in radians per second. i.e
 =2 /T……………………………………………………..(iii)
Since f = 1/T, then
 = 2f……………………………………………………….(iv)
 TYPES OF
OSCILLATION
 Types of oscillation
There are three types of oscillations, these
are;
• Free oscillation
• Forced oscillation
• Damped oscillation
FREE OSCILLATION
 FREE OSCILLATION
• This is a simple harmonic motion with a constant
amplitude, period, energy when no external force
is applied to sustain it.
• Practically speaking this is not obtainable, because
there will always be some amount of resistive
force.
• An example is a simple pendulum/a vibrating
spring with a mass attached in the absence of
external force.
SIMPLE HARMONIC
MOTION
 Simple Harmonic Motion (S.H.M)
(1.)
 Angle in radian (t) 
• S.H.M is the motion of a body sin (when  Is very
small)
about a fixed/equilibrium point
such that its acceleration(a) is
proportional to its displacement(x) A C
B
from that point and it’s always +a -a
xmax
directed towards the fixed point Or -xmax
opposite to the direction of the (2.)
displacement.
• From the definition,
Mathematically, (xmax)
-a
a  -xmax OR -a  xmax 0
a = -2xmax …….....................(v) +a
(-xmax)
 Simple Harmonic Motion (S.H.M) Cont’d

a = -2xmax …….....................(v)

Where 2 is a constant and can be obtained by finding

the gradient of the graph of a against x

Equation (v) is referred to as the defining equation for

S.H.M

In S.H.M, the acceleration(a) varies from time to time (i.e

not constant)
Graphical REPRESENTATION
of the defining equation
for S.H.M
 Graphical explanation of the defining
equation for S.H.M
• Graph of acceleration(a) against displacement(x)

amax

-xmax xmax
-amax
Gradient (m) = -(a/x)
Using y = mx + c (equation of a linear graph) we have,
a = -(a/x)x + 0
a = -2x
This graph confirms the defining equation for S.H.M
Solution to equation
for S.H.M
 Solution to equation for S.H.M
• The solution to the equation for S.H.M can be
determined graphically or mathematically
 Angle in radian (t) 
sin (when  Is very
small)
KEY POINTS TO KNOW WHEN USING GRAPHICAL
METHOD
• Number of oscillations are counted from the
A C
starting point of timing. So note the starting B
+a -a
point. xmax
-xmax
• A complete oscillation is made when four
phases are covered in respect to the reference
point.
• Each phase is /2 or ¼ of the period (T).
• Take note of signs in respect to the direction of (xmax)
-
displacement from the equilibrium point. This a 0
will enable you to understand when a variable +a
(-xmax)
is maximum.
 Solution to equation for S.H.M
• To avoid confusion or the use of  Angle in radian (t) 
sin (when  Is very
wrong signs, draw a table to show small)

the variables (time, displacement,

velocity and acceleration) and their
A C
corresponding positions. B
-a
+a
• Use the variables on the table to xmax
-xmax
plot your graph (The displacement-
time graph gives the solution).
• Deduce what kind of graph is form,
cosine graph starts from non-zero (xmax)
origin while sine graph starts from -a
0
zero. +a
(-xmax)
 Solution to equation for S.H.M graphically
• If C is the point the timing begins, then the relationship between the
time(t), displacement(x), velocity(v) and acceleration(a) is shown in the table
below
Position C B A B C

Time(t) 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T
Displacement(x) xmax 0 -xmax 0 xmax
Velocity(v) 0 -vmax 0 Vmax 0
A C
B Acceleration -amax 0 amax 0 -amax

Acceleration-time
Displacement-time Velocity-time a = -amaxcost
v = -vmaxsint = -xmax 2cos t
xmax x = xmaxcos t = -xmaxsint
vmax amax

T/4 T/2 3T/4 T t T/4 T/2 3T/4 T T/4 T/2 3T/4 T

t t
-xmax -vmax -amax
 Solution to equation for S.H.M graphically
• If B (the equilibrium point) is the point the timing begins, then the
relationship between the time(t), displacement(x), velocity(v) and
acceleration(a) is shown in the table below
Position B C B A B
 Time(t) 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T
Displacement(x) 0 Xmax 0 -xmax 0
Velocity(v) Vmax 0 -vmax 0 Vmax
A C
B Acceleration 0 -amax 0 amax 0

Acceleration-time
Velocity-time a = -amaxsint
Displacement-time = -xmax2sint
v = vmaxcost
x = xmaxsint amax
xmax vmax = xmaxcost

T/4 T/2 3T/4 T T/4 T/2 3T/4 T T/4 T/2 3T/4 T t

t t

-xmax -vmax -amax

Relationship between
velocity and
displacement
Relationship between velocity and displacement
GRAPHICAL METHOD
 Angle in radian (t) 
sin (when  Is very
small)

A C
B
+a -a
xmax
-xmax
 Relationship between velocity and displacement
• Apart from the graphical method, the relationship between v and x can be
determined by using trigonometric ratio or calculus

• USING TRIGONOMETRIC RATIO

Sin2 + Cos2 = 1
• Recall,  = t (in oscillation),
By substituting for ,
Sin2t + Cos2t = 1……………………………….(vi)
• Remember, when x = 0 at time t = 0
X = xmaxsint and v =xmaxcost
• By substituting for sint and cost, we have;
(x/xmax)2 + (v/xmax)2 = 1
• Making v subject of the formula,

…………………………………………..(vii)

• Since x = 0, by substituting
V= xmax= vmax
Question time!!!
RESTORING FORCE
 Restoring force
• In every S.H.M, there’s a resultant force at all points
that tends to restore the oscillating body to the
equilibrium point, this force is called the restoring
force.
• It act in opposite direction to the displacement
• It’s generally given as

FR = ma = -m2xmax ………………….(ix)

• But in spring, it can also be obtained by finding the

resultant forces at a point of displacement.
• From the diagram, taking M as the equilibrium point
after extension e, restoring force at point N will be
Tx

FR = Tx – mg
= (ke – kx) –mg………………….(x)
• At point M, mg =T= ke
By substituting,
FR = -kx…………………………….(xi)
Energy in simple
harmonic motion
 ENERGY IN S.H.M
KINETIC AND POTENTIAL ENERGY INTERCHANGE DURING S.H.M
• Kinetic energy (K.E) is the energy due to the
motion of a mass.
At maximum,
K.Emax = mv2/2 = m 2(x2max – x2)/2…………..(xii)

• Potential energy (P.E) is the energy in a stretched or

compressed spring or string due to the position of a mass
from its equilibrium.
• Recall, P.E in a spring = workdone in stretching
the spring = FRx/2 =kx2/2…………………………..(xiii)
• Since FR = ma = -m2x OR FR = -kx (in spring),
KE = 0 K.E =K.Emax KE = 0 • We can say k = m2………………………………..(xiv)
P.E =P.Emax P.E = 0 P.E =P.Emax • Therefore at maximum by substituting for k in,
P.Emax = m2x2/2………………………………(xv)
Total energy in the system ET = K.Emax + P.Emax
Hence, ET = m2x2max/2…………………………..(xvi)
Total energy is constant.
DO THIS: Sketch the graph of energy against time
-xmax xmax indicating K.E, P.E and total energy
Damped oscillations
 Damped oscillations
•Damped oscillation is a simple harmonic motion with
decreasing amplitude and dissipation of energy from mechanical
to thermal energy due to external or internal damping forces.

•Damping simply means the effect of frictional and other

resistive or opposing forces on an oscillator resulting into loss of
energy or decrease in amplitude.

•There are three kinds of damped oscillations base on the extent

of damping of an oscillation. These are;
1. Light damping
2. Heavy damping
3. Critical damping
 Light damping
• This occurs when the amplitude of an oscillation gradually
decreases with time as a result of a small application of damping
force or loss of energy in air or any light medium.
• The amplitude in this kind of damping decreases in an exponential
decay process.
• In this case, the period of oscillation is constant or unchanged
because it’s approximately equal to its period before damping.
• Energy dissipated is less.
Displacement
 Heavy damping
• In this kind of damping, no oscillation occur due to high
damping force.
• However, the system returns very slowly to its
equilibrium position.
• A long time is taken to return to rest position
• Energy loss is greater.
Displacement

Time
 Critical damping
• Here, no oscillation occur

• The displacement decreases to zero in the shortest or minimum time.

Displacement

Time
DO THIS: Sketch the combined displacement-time graph of light, heavy,
and critical graph
 PAUSE & ASK YOURSELF….
Can we maintain the amplitude
of an oscillation?

Can we increase the amplitude?

Forced oscillation
 Forced oscillation
• Forced oscillation is a simple harmonic
motion that is driven externally by a force
with large amplitude.
• A good example of forced oscillation is a
child’s swing.
• The swing oscillates with a natural
frequency (frequency at which object
vibrates when free to do so)when
displaced and released.
• However, it amplitude decreases due to
damping
• To increase or keep the amplitude
constant, energy is provided by a periodic
driving force from the driver.
• In a case where the driving/forced
frequency (the frequency at which object
is made to oscillate by the driver) is equal
to the natural frequency of the driven, a
maximum amplitude is reached. This
occurrence is called resonance.
Resonance
 Resonance
• Resonance occurs when the
frequency of a periodic driving force
on an oscillating system equals the
natural frequency of the system to
give a maximum amplitude. i.e

Driving force (f) = natural frequency (fo)

• The frequency at which this occur is

called resonant frequency
• To achieve this, more energy is
supplied by the driver
Natural
• A practical example is Barton’s frequency
pendulum
BARTON’S PENDULUM
 Effect of damping on the
frequency and sharpness of
the resonance
 Effect of damping on the frequency and
sharpness of the resonance peak
• The sharpness of the resonance depends on the
amount of damping.
• The higher the damping, the flatter the peak.
Amplitude of forced
oscillation

Light
damping
Critical
damping

Natural Driving
frequency frequency
 APPLICATIONS OF RESONANCE
• Quartz crystal for timing
• Production of ultrasound using piezoelectric
crystal

DO THIS: Research and write out at least three

applications and adverse effects of resonance.
SUMMARY OF S.H.M IN A GLANCE
SUMMARY OF S.H.M IN A GLANCE
Question time!!!