Problem Set -3
Physics of Waves - PH11003 (Autumn 2024-25)
Damped and Forced Damped Harmonic Oscillator
August 17, 2024
1. Forced SHM
Find the solution of the problem:
d2 x
+ ω 2 x = f0 cos γt, x(0) = 0, ẋ(0) = 0 (1)
dt2
(a) Find the limit: limγ→ω x(t)
(b) With small manipulation in the solution x(t), argue that one can find beats in this
system.
2. Damped and Forced Damped pendulum system
(a) A pendulum is hanging from a movable pivot making an angle θ with the vertical. The
pivot is on a frictionless surface moving along a particular direction, as shown in the figure
below. Take the length of the (massless) string attaching the bob to the pivot as l. Find the
equation of motion of the system and solve for θ(t), taking small angle approximation.
Figure 1:
(b) Now, we only immerse the pendulum bob in a viscous fluid. Taking small angle approx-
imations, solve for θ(t).
3. Oscillation in the presence of Friction
A bar of mass m = 0.50 kg lying on a horizontal plane with a friction coefficient µ = 0.1
is attached to the wall by means of a horizontal non-deformed spring. The stiffness of the
spring is equal to k = 2.45 N/cm, its mass is negligible. The bar was displaced so that the
spring was stretched by x0 = 3.0 cm, and then released. Find:
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(a) The period of oscillation of the bar
(b) The total number of oscillations that the bar performs until it stops completely.
4. LCR circuit
Consider the LCR series circuit (with inductance L, capacitance C and resistance R; denote
charge by q) connected with a time-dependent voltage source V (t) = V0 cos (ωt).
(a) Using Kirchoff’s voltage law, check that you will find a differential equation that resem-
bles like a forced oscillator. What is the power delivered (denoted by P ) by the external
voltage at any time t? (Write the answer in terms of R, L, C, q and its derivatives).
(b) Using the expression in part (a), find the average power (denoted by ⟨P ⟩; the average is
done over a cycle of time T = 2π/ω delivered by the external source after a long time.)
(c) At any moment, there is some energy which is always stored in the circuit. What is
the average energy (denoted by ⟨E⟩) which is stored in the circuit ?
⟨E⟩
(d) Define Q = 2π ⟨P ⟩T . Find Q from the expressions found in part (b) and (c). What is
Q at resonance ?
5. A Forced Damped problem
The velocity amplitude of a particle is equal to half the maximum value at the frequencies
ω1 and ω2 of external harmonic force. Find:
(a) The frequency corresponding to the velocity resonance
(b) The damping coefficient β and the damped oscillation frequency ω of the particle.
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