Solution Assignment No.
1
Date: 13.0.2026
Due date: 20.02.2026
1. A particle is simultaneously subjected to two simple harmonic motions
𝑪
in the 𝑥 direction, both having the same frequency. The amplitudes of the
two motions are 𝑂𝐴 = 4.00 𝑚𝑚 and 𝐴𝐶 = 6.00 𝑚𝑚 as shown in the
𝑶
figure on the right. If the resultant amplitude 𝑂𝐶 = 9.42 𝑚𝑚, find the 𝑨
phase constant between the two harmonic oscillations. (5)
Solution:
𝑪
The phase constant 𝜙 is shown in the figure on the right.
𝝓
Therefore, ∠𝑂𝐴𝐶 = (𝜋 − 𝜙) 𝑶
𝑨
Using the cosine rule: ̅̅̅̅ )2 = (𝑂𝐴
(𝑂𝐶 ̅̅̅̅)2 + (𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅ )2 − 2(𝑂𝐴
̅̅̅̅)(𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅ )𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜋 − 𝜙)
̅̅̅̅ )2 −(𝑂𝐴
(𝑂𝐶 ̅̅̅̅)2 −(𝐴𝐶 ̅̅̅̅ )2
This gives: 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = ̅̅̅̅
2(𝑂𝐴 ̅̅̅̅
)(𝐴𝐶 )
Inserting values 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = 0.7653
𝜙 = 0.7 𝑟𝑎𝑑. = 40.1°
2. A particle undergoing simple harmonic oscillation of period 𝑇 is at −𝐴 at time 𝑡 = 0 (where 𝐴 is the
amplitude of the oscillation). For the following times, state whether that particle is at −𝐴, +𝐴, 0,
between 0 and −𝐴 or between 0 and +𝐴.
a) 𝑡 = 2.00𝑇
b) 𝑡 = 3.50𝑇
c) 𝑡 = 5.25𝑇
Solution:
If at time 𝑡 = 0, the particle is at position −𝐴, then its motion is depicted by the graph shown below.
In one period, the position of the is
−𝐴 at time 𝑡 = 0, 𝑇, 2𝑇, …
+𝐴 at time 𝑡 = 0.5𝑇, 1.5𝑇, 2.5𝑇, …
0 at time 𝑡 = 0.25𝑇, 0.75𝑇, 1.25𝑇, …
𝒙(𝒕)
+𝑨
𝒕
𝑻
−𝑨
2𝜋
From the graph, the motion of the particle is described by 𝑥(𝑡) = −𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡, where 𝜔 =
𝑇
a) 𝑥(2.00𝑇) = −𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(4𝜋) = −𝐴
2𝜋
b) 𝑥(3.50𝑇) = −𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑇 × 3.5𝑇) = −𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(7𝜋) = +𝐴
2𝜋
c) 𝑥(5.25𝑇) = −𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝑇 × 5.25𝑇) = −𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(10.5𝜋) = 0 (between −𝐴 and +𝐴)
3. The circle having radius 5 𝑐𝑚 is divided into 12 equal sectors as shown in
𝑷
the figure on the right. The position of point 𝑷 at time 𝑡 = 0 𝑠 is indicated
on the figure. 𝑷 moves anticlockwise, returning to its original position in
2 𝑚𝑖𝑛.
a) ̅̅̅̅ of the form 𝑥(𝑡) =
Obtain an expression for the 𝑥-coordinate of the line 𝑶𝑷
𝑶 𝒙
𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙), giving the numerical values of 𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙. (4)
b) Find the values of 𝑥, 𝑥̇ and 𝑥̈ at 𝑡 = 90 𝑠. (4)
Solution:
a) The minute hand makes a full circle in 120 𝑠. Therefore, the angular frequency is:
2𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝜋
𝜔 = 120 𝑠 = 60 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 −1
The maximum value of the the 𝑥-coordinate of the tip of the minute hand is equal to its length, so
𝐴 = 5 𝑐𝑚
At time 𝑡 = 0, the angle between the minute hand and the 𝑥-axis is 60°. This gives:
𝜋
𝜙=3
𝜋 𝜋
This gives: 𝑥(𝑡) = 5𝑐𝑜𝑠 (60 𝑡 + 3 ) 𝑐𝑚
3𝜋 𝜋
b) At 𝑡 = 90 𝑠 𝑥(𝑡) = 5𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 2 + 3 ) 𝑐𝑚 = 5 × (0.866) 𝑐𝑚
𝑥(𝑡) = 4.33 𝑐𝑚
The velocity is given by: 𝑥̇ (𝑡) = −𝐴𝜔𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
Substituting values of 𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙, 𝑥̇ (𝑡) = 0.131 𝑐𝑚𝑠 −1
The acceleration is given by: 𝑥̈ (𝑡) = 𝐴𝜔2 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
Substituting values of 𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙, 𝑥̈ (𝑡) = −0.0119 𝑐𝑚𝑠 −2
4. The figure on the right shows the acceleration 𝑎 of a particle undergoing
simple harmonic motion with amplitude 𝐴. Answer the following questions
giving reasons for your answers.
a) Which of the labeled points corresponds to the particle at the position 𝑥 =
−𝐴?
b) At point 4 is the velocity of the particle positive, negative or zero?
c) At point 5, the position of the particle is +𝐴, −𝐴, 0, between 0 and +𝐴 or between −𝐴 and 0?
Solution:
a) At 𝑥 = −𝐴, the particle is at its maximum negative displacement. Therefore, the restoring force
𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡. = −𝑠𝑥 = −𝑠(−𝐴) = 𝑠𝐴 has its maximum positive value. According to Newton’s second law,
𝑚𝑎 = 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡. , so at 𝑥 = −𝐴, acceleration will have its maximum positive value. Point 𝟐 in the figure
corresponds to the particle at the position 𝑥 = −𝐴.
b) At point 𝟒 the acceleration of the particle is zero, which means that the restoring force is zero, i.e. the
particle is at its equilibrium position between point 𝟐 (𝑥 = −𝐴) and point 𝟔 (𝑥 = +𝐴). Since it is
moving in the direction of positive 𝑥, its velocity is positive. (It is not zero because 𝑥̇ = 0 only at 𝑥 =
±𝐴.
c) From the above arguments, it is clear that at point 𝟓, the position of the particle lies between 𝑥 = 0
and 𝑥 = +𝐴.
5. The co-ordinates of the displacement of a particle of mass m are given by
𝑥 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡
𝑦 = 𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡
a) Eliminate t to show that the particle follows an elliptical path and show by adding its kinetic and
potential energy at any position 𝑥, 𝑦 that the ellipse is a path of constant energy equal to the sum of
the separate energies of the simple harmonic vibrations.
b) Prove that the quantity 𝑚(𝑥𝑦̇ − 𝑦𝑥̇ ) is also constant. What does this quantity represent?
Solution:
𝑥
a) Using the given equations: 𝑎
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡
𝑦
and 𝑏
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡
Using 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡 = 1,
𝑥 2 𝑦 2
Gives: (𝑎) + (𝑏 ) = 1
which is the equation of an ellipse centered at the origin (0,0) and with major and minor axes at right
angles to each other.
At any position (𝑥, 𝑦) in the path of the ellipse, the total potential energy is given by:
1 1
𝐸𝑝𝑜𝑡. = 2 𝑠𝑥 2 + 2 𝑠𝑦 2
1
= 2 𝑠(𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 + 𝑏 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡)
1 1
Using 𝑠 = 𝑚𝜔2 gives 𝐸𝑝𝑜𝑡. = 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 + 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑏2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡
At the position (𝑥, 𝑦) in the path of the ellipse, the total kinetic energy is given by:
1 1
𝐸𝑘𝑖𝑛. = 2 𝑚𝑥̇ 2 + 2 𝑚𝑦̇ 2
where 𝑥̇ = 𝑎𝜔𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 and 𝑦̇ = −𝑏𝜔𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡, so that
1 1
𝐸𝑘𝑖𝑛. = 2 𝑚𝑎2 𝜔2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡 + 2 𝑚𝑏 2 𝜔2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡
The total energy 𝐸 = 𝐸𝑝𝑜𝑡. + 𝐸𝑘𝑖𝑛.
1 1 1 1
= 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 + 2 𝑚𝜔2 𝑏2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡 + 2 𝑚𝑎2 𝜔2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡 + 2 𝑚𝑏 2 𝜔2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡
1
Therefore, 𝐸 = 𝑚𝜔2 (𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 ) = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡.
2
b) The given quantity is: 𝑚(𝑥𝑦̇ − 𝑦𝑥̇ ) = 𝑚(−𝑎𝑏𝜔𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡 − 𝑎𝑏𝜔𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡)
= −𝑚𝑎𝑏𝜔 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡.
To find out what this quantity, we must carry out a dimensional analysis.
[𝑚𝑎𝑏𝜔] = 𝑀𝐿2 𝑇 −1 = 𝐿 × 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −1
Therefore, [𝑚𝑎𝑏𝜔] = [𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ] × [𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚]
So the quantity 𝑚𝑎𝑏𝜔 represents the angular momentum of the particle.
6. The figure on the right shows a simple harmonic oscillation with 𝑥(𝑡) =
𝑥𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙), where 𝑥𝑠 = 3 𝑐𝑚. Find the phase constant 𝜙.
Solution:
From the graph 𝑥(𝑡 = 0) = −1.
Therefore, −1 = 3𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙
1
𝜙 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (− ) = 109.5° = 1.9 𝑟𝑎𝑑.
3