Prof M.

Rashid Khan
 MDCAT Unit: Oscillations
Study of oscillatory motion/vibratory motion, is called oscillations.
Vibratory Motion
To and fro motion of a body, is called vibratory motion. e.g motion of mass-spring system, motion of simple pendulum.
Conditions Of Vibratory Motion
A vibratory motion takes place in a body under the conditions that
1. Body posses elasticity and 2. Body posses inertia

Oscillatory motion taking place under influence of restoring force of vibrating system, is called SHM

Characteristics Of SHM Of mass-spring system

Angular frequency, Phase, displacement, velocity, acceleration, etc are characteristics of a body executing SHM

1. Angular Frequency
Angular frequency 𝜔 is basically characteristics of circular motion. But we introduce it in SHM so that phase angle,
instantaneous velocity and displacement etc of body executing SHM can be computed easily.
For a mass-spring system executing SHM with period T
Prof M. Rashid Khan
2π K
ω= =
T m
 2. Phase
It is also basically characteristics of circular motion. But it involve in SHM when we compare it with uniform circular
motion and is defined as:
Phase is an angle which describe instantaneous displacement and instantaneous velocity etc
of a body executing SHM.
It is instantaneous angle subtended by position vector r of a particle P rotating along circular path with reference
axis as shown in Fig.

It is given as
2π T
θ = ωt = t t= t= 0
T 4 D t=t
At t= 0 θ=0
T
At t= θ = π/2
4
T
At t= θ=π t= 0 t= 0 =φ
2
3T t= T
At t= θ = 3π/2
4
At t= T θ = 2π
3T E E
For certain initial phase φ, t=
4
total phase at t=t is When φ=0 then When φ=90𝑜 then
2π At t= 0 θ/ = 0 At t=0 θ/ = 0+90𝑜 = 90𝑜
θ/ = θ + φ = t+φ M start from A to B M start from B to A
T
 3.Displacement 4.Velocity 5.Acceleration
For 𝛗 = 𝟎 as shown For 𝛗 = 𝟎 as shown For 𝛗 = 𝟎 as shown

T T 3T
,4 ,2 ,4 ,T
,t
t
then At t = t then At t = t
𝟐𝛑 v= 𝛚𝐱𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉 = 𝐯𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛚𝐭 = 𝐯𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝟐𝛑
𝐭 then At t = t
𝐱 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛚𝐭 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐭 𝐓 𝟐𝛑
𝐓 a= −𝛚𝟐 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 = −𝐚𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛚𝐭 = −𝐚𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐭
For initial phase 𝛗 > 𝟎 𝐯𝐨 = 𝛚𝐱𝐨 (max speed) 𝐓
K
𝐱 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉 + 𝛗 a= − 𝛚𝟐 𝐱 = − x
v = ω xo2 − x 2

Prof M. Rashid Khan

Which is eq. of ellipse m
If 𝝋 = 𝟗𝟎𝒐 as shown in Fig.
v 2 = ω2 xo2 − x 2 Thus, a ∝ −𝐱
v2 v-x gp is elliptic as Y
2 = xo2 − x 2 shown.
a
ω
x2 v2 Y
+ =1 -X o X
xo2 ω2 xo2 -x x
a = 𝐱𝐨 = amplitude -X o X -a
then At t = t b = 𝛚𝐱𝐨 = max speed -Y
𝟐𝛑
𝐱 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉 + 𝟗𝟎𝐨 =𝐱𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐭 x2 v2 -Y a 2π
𝐓
+ =1 𝒌 Slope of a-x gp= - tanθ= - = ω2 =( )2
𝐱 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧
𝒌
t
a2 b 2 𝐯 = 𝐯𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐬 t x T
𝒎 𝒎
6.Restoring Force 7.P.E1 8.K.E 9.T.E
1
Fr = −K x (Hooks Law for spring) U = kx 2 = xo2 sin2 θ 1 1
KE = mv 2= m𝜔2 xo2 cos2 θ E=U+KE
2 2
2π 2 2
Fr = −K xo sinθ 2
= Uo sin ( t) 2π E = Uo sin2 θ + KEo cos 2 θ
2π T = KEo cos2 ( t)
Fr = − Fo sin( t) x-t gp
T
But Uo = KEo = E
T
E = Esin2θ + Ecos2 θ
E = E(sin2 θ+cos 2 θ)
1
E = E = xo2 = constant
2
Total energy of mass-spring
System is independent of
time t and displacement x,
Fr ∝ −x
as shown by E-t gp and E-x
Y 1 1
KE = mv 2= K(xo2 − x 2 ) gp.
F U∝ x2 2 2
1 E
E-t gp

Prof M. Rashid Khan

-X X KEo = Kxo2
-x x 1 2 2
Uo = kx
-F 2 o

-Y t
F
Slope of F-x gp= - tanθ = − = K
x E
K is force/spring constant. E-x gp
It depends uponMeasure of elasticity x=xo
i. Material nature of spring wire x=−xo
ii. Thickness of spring wire t
iii. Length off spring
10. Time Period 11. Frequency At mean position: x=a=F=U=0
2π m 1 1 K K
T= = 2π f= = v = vo = ωxo = x (max)
ω K T 2π m m o
1
T is independent of f is independent of KE = KEo = Kxo2 (max)
2
instantaneous time t instantaneous time t At extreme position: v = KE= 0
T T-t f x = xo (max)
f-t K
a = ao = −ω2 xo = − xo (max)
m
F = Fo = −Kxo (max)
t t 1
U = Uo = Kxo2 (max)
2
For vertically oscillating mass spring system.
m x K g

Prof M. Rashid Khan

= =
K g m x For frequency f of oscillating mass-spring system, the
Thus, Thus, variation frequency of x, v, a, U, K.E is 2f
x 1 g
T = 2π f= Q. At what time, displacement of mass-spring system is half
g 2π x
g of its maximum displacement moving from mean to extreme
x
= constant = constant position?
g x
T is independent of x f is independent of x 𝟐𝛑 1 2π
𝐱 = 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐭 sin−1 ( ) = t
T f 𝐓 2 T T
T-x f-x
π 2π =t
𝐱𝐨 𝟐𝛑 12
= 𝐱𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐭 = t
x x 𝟐 𝐓 6 T
Q. At what time, displacement of mass- Q. What is acceleration of particle Q. If x=2sin(50t) then what is
spring system is half of its maximum 𝐓 velocity of Particle Executing SHM?
executing SHM at 𝐭 = ? Given max
𝟔
displacement moving from extreme to
value of its acceleration is 36 cm 𝐬 −𝟐.
mean position? x = xo sin(ωt)
2π
x = xo cos
2π
t
a = −ao sin t 𝐱𝐨 = 2 cm and ω=50 rad s−1
T
T
2π T v = vo cosθ = ωxo cos (ωt)
xo 2π a = 36cm 𝐬 −𝟐 sin ×
= xo cos t T 6 𝑣 = 50 ×2 cos (50t)
2 T
π
a = 36cm 𝐬 −𝟐 sin 𝑣 = 100 cos (50t)
1 2π 3
cos−1 ( )= t Q. At what displacement of particle
2 T 3
π 2π T 𝑎 = 36 cm s −2 = 18 3 cm s −2 executing SHM, its PE is 25 % of its
= t ⟹ =t 2
3 T 6 maximum value?
Q. What is time period of a particle
Q. At what phase angle, velocity of executing SHM, if its acceleration 36 cm 1 2
U = kx = 25 % of E

Prof M. Rashid Khan

mass-spring system is half of its 𝐬 −𝟐 at 4 cm displacement? 2
maximum value moving from mean to 1 2 1 1 2
extreme position? 2π Kx = ( Kxo )
a = ω2 x = ( )2 x 2 4 2
v = vo cosθ T xo2
a 2π 2
x =
vo = 4
= vo cosθ x T
2
1 π x 4 2π xo2 xo
θ = cos−1 = T = 2π = 2π = s x= =
2 3 a 36 3 4 2
Q. A mas spring system execute SHM Q. Period of mas spring system Q. What fraction of total energy of a
with period T. What will be its period if suspended vertically in stationary lift is particle executing SHM is its KE when
its mass is doubled? T. What will be its period when lift start displacement is one half of
𝐠
m moving upward with acceleration a= ? amplitude?
𝟐
T = 2π
K
x
2m m TsL = 2π =T
T / = 2π = 2 2π = 2T g
K K
x/ 3x/2 x
Q. Period of mas spring system execute TaL = 2π / = 2π = 2π =T
SHM vertically on surface of Earth is T. g 3g/2 g
What will be its period if it is shifted to Q. What is phase difference between Q. What is shape of v-x graph of a
moon? ‘v’ and ‘a’ of a particle Executing SHM? particle executing SHM?
x
Prof M. Rashid Khan

Te = 2π =T
g
Q. At what displacement of a particle
x
x ∝ g ⟹ = constant executing SHM its PE and KE are
g Q. Two particles P and Q executing equal?
SHM cross each other in opposite
xm
Tm = 2π =T direction? What is their phase
gm
difference?
 Combination of Springs Springs constant of a segment of
To connect two or more springs to get a single spring of desire elasticity. given spring
Combination of springs is of two types.
x∝𝓵
1.Series Combination 2.Series Combination F 1 1
In this type of combination, the springs In this type of combination, the springs K seg = ⟹ K seg ∝ ∝ 2K
are connected by end to end as shown are connected by side to side as shown x x 𝓵
K

When a spring of spring

constant K is cut into n
1 1 1 K1 K 2
= + ⟹ Ke = K e = K1 + K 2
equal segments, the spring
K e K1 K 2 K1 + K1
each segment is 𝐊 𝐬 = 𝐧𝐊
K e < K1 < K 2 K e > K1 > K 2
K For K1 = K 2 = K ⟹ K e = 2K
Q. A spring of spring constant 100 N 𝐦−𝟏 is
For K1 = K 2 = K ⟹ Ke =
2 cut into four equal segments. What is spring
K For K1 = K 2 = K 3 = K ⟹ K e = 3K
For K1 = K 2 = K 3 = K ⟹ Ke = constant of each part.
3
K s = nK = 4 × 100 N m−1 = 400N m−1
K K e = nK
Ke = Q. A spring of spring constant K is cut into
n Q. Three springs of spring constants 5 N two in length’s ratio 1:3. What is ratio of
Q. Three springs of spring constants 5 N 𝐦−𝟏 ,25 N 𝐦−𝟏 and 75 N 𝐦−𝟏 are
spring constants of two parts.
𝐦−𝟏 ,25 N 𝐦−𝟏 and 75 N 𝐦−𝟏 are connected in parallel. What is spring
connected in series. What is spring constant of their combination. 3𝓵
1 1 K 1 𝓵2 3
constant of their combination. K seg ∝ ∝ ⟹ = = 4 =
K e = K1 + K 2 + K 3 = 5 + 25 + 75 = 105 N 𝐦−𝟏 x 𝓵 K 2 𝓵1 𝓵 1
4
Q. Two springs of spring constants 12 N Q. Ten springs each of spring constant 8 Q. A spring of spring constant K is cut into
𝐦−𝟏 and 8 N 𝐦−𝟏 are connected in N 𝐦−𝟏 75 N are connected in parallel. two parts such that one part has length
series. What is equivalent spring What is equivalent spring constant? twice the length of second part. What is
constant? spring constant of longer piece?
K e = nK = 10 × 75 N 𝐦−𝟏
K1 K 2 𝓵1 : 𝓵2 = 1: 2
Ke = = 750 N 𝐦−𝟏 𝓵 2𝓵
K1 + K1 𝓵1 = 𝓵2 =
3 3
F F F 3F 3
K2 = = = = = K
x2 𝓵2 2𝓵/𝟑 2 𝓵 2

Prof M. Rashid Khan

SHM Of simple Pendulum
Restoring Acceleration Angular Frequency Time period
Force Frequency
Fr = −mgsinθ a = −gsinθ g 1 g
ω= f= 𝓵
𝓁 2π 𝓵 T = 2π
g
f∝ g T∝ 𝓵
1 1
f∝ T∝
𝓵 g

A simple pendulum of time period T= 2 s , is called second pendulum

Frequency of second pendulum = f = 0.5 s
Length of second pendulum = 𝓵 = 99.9 cm ≈ 1m

1
T ∝ 𝓵 or f ∝
𝓵
Q. When a girl sitting in a swing stands up, what happens Q. what happens to the period of oscillation of a water filled
to the motion of swing balloon suspended vertically by means of long thread
when a leak is made inside of it?
𝓵↓ 𝐓↓ 𝐟 ↑ motion becomes faster Center of gravity shifts toward downward
𝓵↑ 𝐓↑ 𝐟 ↓ motion becomes slower
 1
T∝ and f ∝ g
g
On Earth’s Surface At altitude h At depth d

h
N-pole

Equator
GMe
ge = GMe GMe d
R2e S-Pole gh = = g d = g e (1 − )
r2 (R e + h)2 Re
1 h↑ g h ↓ Th ↑
ge ∝ 2 d
Re d↑ (1 − ) ↓ g𝑑 ↓ Th ↑
When h = R�e Re
From Equator to pole GMe GMe GMe

Prof M. Rashid Khan

Re
Re ↓ g e ↑ Te ↓ fe ↑ gh = = = When d =
(R e + 𝑅𝑒 )2 (2R e )2 4R2e 2
Time period of simple pendulum is minimum ge ge
Re/2
gh = g d = g e (1 − )=
at pole and maximum at equator. 4 Re 2
Th = 2 Te Td = 2 Te
Along Latitude 𝐑 𝐞 =constant When simple pendulum is shifted At center of earth d = R�e
When simple pendulum is shifted along from Karachi to Lahore g d =0
latitude its time period remain unchanged. h↑ g h ↓ Th ↑ Td = ∞
 1
T∝ and f ∝ g
g
On surface of Moon On surface of Planet other than Earth In Lift
𝓵 𝓵
𝓵 𝓵 𝓵 In stationary lift= T = 2π
Te = 2π Te = 2π = 2π = 2π R g
ge ge (GMe /R2e ) GMe e
ge In accelerated lift: g / = g ∓ a
gm = 𝓵 𝓵 𝓵
6 TP = 2π = 2π = 2π R 𝓵
gP (GMP /R2P) GMP P In upward acc lift: T = 2π = inc
𝓵 𝓵 (g+a)
Tm = 2π = 6(2π )= 6 Te
𝐠 𝐞 /𝟔 𝐠𝐞
𝓵
Q. What will be the period of second In downward acc lift: T = 2π = dec
Q. What will be the period of second (g−a)
pendulum when it is shifted from pendulum when it is shifted from 𝓵
Earth to a planet whose mass and In free fall (a=g) lift: T = 2π =∞
Earth to Moon. (g−g)
radius twice as that of earth?
Tm = 6 Te = 6 ×2s=2 6s
Q. What is time period of second 𝓵
Te = 2π R =2s
pendulum on surface of Moon. GMe e

Tm = 2 s 𝓵 𝓵 2
TP = 2π R P = 2π 2R e = Te
GMP G2Me 2
Q. Length of second pendulum on
earth is 𝓵. What should be its length = 2×2s=2 2s
on surface moon so that it remain
second pendulum?
 Free Oscillations Forced Oscillations Damped Oscillations
Oscillations of a system under its Oscillations of a system under a Oscillations of a system under damping
restoring force. e.g periodic external force. e.g forces such as air drag, friction, gravity.
Vibrations of mass-spring system under Vibrations in sitar, guitar, violin set up e.g
Fr = −kx by periodic struck. Vibrations of mass-spring system
Vibrations of simple pendulum under Vibrations in ground set up by electric dipped in oil like shock absorber of
Fr = −mgsinθ compactor or by running train motor bike.
Frequency with a system execute Vibrations in swing set up by
A damped oscillator dissipates its
free oscillations, is called its natural consecutive hit on ground
energy as heat in surrounding and
frequency A system executing forced oscillations, soon its oscillations are died off as
is called driven oscillator. shown.
A free oscillator does not dissipates its
energy as heat and its amplitude A driven oscillator gain energy from
remain constant as shown. surrounding with time t and its
amplitude increases gradually as shown.

Damping is a process where by energy

When forced frequency matches with natural Of vibrating system dissipates as heat
Prof M. Rashid Khan frequency of vibrating system, there happen a In surrounding
very large increase in amplitude of the system.
This phenomenon is called resonance.
Resonance
Mark increase in amplitude of a system when forced frequency becomes equal to its natural frequency, is known as
Resonance.
Forced frequency equal to natural frequency of the vibrating system, is called resonating frequency. 𝐟𝐫 = 𝐟𝐧

Examples Of Resonance
1.Amplitude of bridge span increases to remarkable limit when frequency of rhythmic
march of soldiers matches with its natural frequency (mechanical resonance).
2. Amplitude of swing becomes fairly large when frequency of struck on ground

Amplitude
matches with its natural frequency. (mechanical resonance).
3. A radio/TV station (forced frequency) can be picked in radio/TV set by comparing
natural frequency to that with desired radio/TV station. (electrical resonance).
4. Food heat up iin micro wave oven by micro waves.

Prof M. Rashid Khan

fmicro waves = 2450 MHz and λmicro waves = 12.0 cm
Sharpness of resonance
When oscillating systems of same natural frequency but of different damping are
subjected to resonating frequency, a highly undamped system undergoes fairly large 𝐟𝐫 = 𝐟𝐧
resonance. The amplitude - frequency response curve is fairly sharp for highly un- Driving frequency
damped system, known as sharpness of resonance as shown.