Vibrations and Waves

BASIC SCIENCE: PHYSICS COMPONENT
Part of CMED1BF module
Vibrations and waves

Oscillations
• Introduction to Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):
– Definition and Characteristics: Exploring the basic principles and behaviours of SHM, including its
periodic nature and restoring forces.
• Energy Considerations in SHM:
– Potential and Kinetic Energy: Understanding the interplay between potential and kinetic energy in
oscillatory systems, focusing on spring oscillations.
• Period and Sinusoidal Nature of SHM:
– Periodic Behaviour: Investigating the time-related aspects of SHM, including the period and frequency, is
crucial for understanding oscillatory motion.
– Sinusoidal Representation: Analysing SHM through sinusoidal functions, highlighting the relationship
between displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
Simple Harmonic Motion—Spring Oscillations
• Periodic Motion:
• Definition: Motion recurring at consistent intervals, seen in various phenomena like

rocking chairs, bouncing balls, vibrating tuning forks, swinging pendulums, planetary
orbits, and water waves.
• Model: Mass and spring systems provide a valuable model for understanding periodic
behaviour.
• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):
• Description: Any vibrating system exhibiting a restoring force proportional to the

negative displacement follows SHM principles.
• Example: A mass attached to a spring oscillating back and forth is a classic example of
SHM, often termed a simple harmonic oscillator.
• We assume that the surface is frictionless.
• There is a point where the spring is neither stretched nor compressed; this is the equilibrium position.
• We measure displacement from that point (x = 0 on the previous figure).
• The force exerted by the spring depends on the displacement:
𝑭𝒓 = −𝒌𝒙
• The minus sign on the force indicates that it is a restoring force— it is directed to restore the mass to its
equilibrium position.
• k is the spring constant
• The force is not constant, so the acceleration is not constant either

• Displacement and Equilibrium:
• Measurement: Displacement is measured from the
equilibrium point (x = 0).
• Amplitude: Maximum displacement from the equilibrium
point.
• Cycle and Period:
• Definition: A cycle encompasses a full to-and-fro motion.
• Period: Time needed to complete one cycle.
• Frequency:
• Definition: Number of cycles completed per second.
Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion
We already know that the potential energy of a spring is given by:
PE = ½ kx2
The total mechanical energy is then:
𝟏 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
𝐦𝐯 + 𝐤𝐱 = 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲
𝟐 𝟐
The total mechanical energy will be conserved, as we are assuming the system
is frictionless.
Conservation Principle:
Assertion: Total mechanical energy remains constant in a frictionless system.
Implication: Energy can transfer between kinetic and potential forms, but the
sum remains unchanged.
• If the mass is at the limits of its motion, the energy is all potential.
• If the mass is at the equilibrium point, the energy is all kinetic.
• We know what the potential energy is at the turning points:
Let 𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐱 = ±𝐀 (amplitude)
When X= ±A
𝟏 𝟏
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 = 𝐦(𝟎)𝟐 + 𝐤(𝐀)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 = 𝐤𝐀
𝟐
When X= 0
𝟏 𝟏
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐 + 𝐤(𝟎)𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 = 𝐦𝒗𝟐 𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝟐
𝟏 𝟐
The total energy is, therefore = 𝐤𝐀
𝟐
𝐱 𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝐀
𝟏 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟐
𝐦𝐯 + 𝐤𝐱 = 𝐤𝐀
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏 𝟏
𝐤𝐀 = 𝐦𝐯 𝐦𝐚𝐱 + 𝐤(𝟎)𝟐
𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟐 𝟏
𝐤𝐀 = 𝐦𝐯 𝟐 𝐦𝐚𝐱
𝟐 𝟐
𝐤
𝐯𝐦𝐚𝐱 = ±𝐀
𝐦
𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝐦𝐯 𝟐 + 𝐤𝐱 𝟐 = 𝐤𝐀𝟐
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝐦𝐯 𝟐 + 𝐤𝐱 𝟐 = 𝐤𝐀𝟐
𝐦𝐯 𝟐 = 𝐤𝐀𝟐 − 𝐤𝐱 𝟐
𝐦𝐯 𝟐 = 𝐤 (𝐀𝟐 − 𝐱 𝟐 )
𝟐
𝐤 (𝐀𝟐 − 𝐱 𝟐 )
𝐯 =
𝐦
𝐤 𝟐 𝐱𝟐
𝐯𝟐 = 𝐀 𝟏− 𝟐
𝐦 𝐀
𝐤 𝟐 𝐱𝟐
𝐯= 𝐀 𝟏− 𝟐
𝐦 𝐀
𝐤 𝐱𝟐
𝐯=𝐀 𝟏−
𝐦 𝐀𝟐
𝐱𝟐
𝐯 = ±𝐯𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝟏−
𝐀𝟐
The Period and Sinusoidal Nature of SHM
𝟐𝝅𝒓
𝑻=
𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝟐𝝅𝑨
𝑻=
𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝒌
𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒙 = ±𝑨
𝒎
𝟐𝝅𝑨 𝒎
𝑻= = 𝟐𝝅
𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝒌
𝟏 𝒌
𝒇=
𝟐𝝅 𝒎
𝒍
𝛉= where l is the arc length
𝒓
𝟐𝛑𝑹
𝛉= = 𝟐𝛑 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬
𝐫
𝟐𝛑 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 = 𝟑𝟔𝟎°
Angular displacement
∆𝜽 = 𝜽𝟐 − 𝜽𝟏 For 1 revolution
average angular velocity 𝟐𝛑
𝛚=
𝐓
∆𝛉 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬
𝛚= = 𝟐𝛑 𝟏
∆𝐭 𝐬 𝐟= × = 𝐬 −𝟏
𝐓 𝟐𝛑
𝜽 = 𝝎𝒕 𝛚
𝐟=
𝟐𝛑
𝛚 = 𝟐𝛑 𝐟
𝒙
= 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽
𝑨
𝒙 = 𝑨𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽
Damped harmonic motion
Damped harmonic motion is harmonic motion with a frictional or drag force.

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BASIC SCIENCE: PHYSICS COMPONENT

Part of CMED1BF module

• Energy Considerations in SHM:

• Period and Sinusoidal Nature of SHM:

• Definition: Motion recurring at consistent intervals, seen in various phenomena like

• Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM):

• Description: Any vibrating system exhibiting a restoring force proportional to the

• We assume that the surface is frictionless.

• We measure displacement from that point (x = 0 on the previous figure).

• The force exerted by the spring depends on the displacement:

• k is the spring constant

• The force is not constant, so the acceleration is not constant either

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