Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101

Some Problems on Damped and Forced Oscillators

Tapomoy Guha Sarkar

Department of Physics, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Email:tapomoy@[Link]
Office: 3242-I

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 1 / 39
Problem 1
A certain quantity X (t) changes with time as such that the quantity
 2
d
4 X (t) + 16 X (t)2 = C
dt

remains constant. Show that X (t) executes SHM.

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 2 / 39
Problem 2
For a SHM, ẍ + ω 2 x = 0 impose the initial conditions x(t = 0) = xo and
ẋ(t = 0) = vo to write the general solution at time t. Write the energy in
terms of xo , vo and ωo ?

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 3 / 39
Problem 3
(variation of problem 3.2 of A.P French)
Show that the values of ωo for the three oscillators as shown in the figure
are in the ratio 1 : 2 : 4. Each spring has spring constant s.

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 4 / 39
Problem 4 ( A.P. French Problem 3.3)
A platform is executing SHM in a vertical direction with an amplitude of 5
cm and an angular frequency of 20rad s −1 ( A. P. French tells frequency is
10/π s −1 ) , A block is placed on the platform at the lowest point of its
path.
(a) At what point will the block leave the platform
(b) How far will the block rise above the highest point reached by the
platform? Take g = 10m s −2 .

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 5 / 39
Solution: Problem 4

vo
x(t) = xo cos ωo t + sin ωo t
ωo
ω = 20rad/s
A = 5cm
The block is placed at the lowest point of the platform
x = −5 cos ωt
Since at t = 0; x = xo = −5cm and vo = 0
The equation of motion for the block
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 6 / 39
 N − mg = ma
At lift off N = 0
=⇒ ma = −mg
a = −g
−ω 2 x = −g
g 10 × 100
x= = cm = 2.5cm
ω2 400
Lift happens at x = 2.5cm
(b)
ω 2 A cos ωt = g
g −2.5 1
cos ωt = 2 = =
ω A 5 2
r √
1 3
=⇒ sin ωt = 1 − =
4 2
Velocity at Lift Off
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 7 / 39
 ẋ = Aω sin ωt
√
3
= Aω
2
√
3
= 5 × 20 ×
2
Now we move to find Height h
p
2gh = v
√ √
50 3 = 2 × 1000 × h
2500 × 3
h=
2000
7.5cm
=⇒ h = = 3.75cm
2
For Equilibrium Position 3.75 + 2.5 = 6.25cm
Or 1.25cm above the max position of the platform
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 8 / 39
Problem 5 (A.P. French Problem 3.6)
A circular hoop of diameter D hangs on a nail. Find the period of small
oscillation. What would happen if it was a disc instead of a hoop?

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 9 / 39
Solution: Problem 5

HOOP:
I θ̈ = −MgR sin θ
I = MR 2 + MR 2 = 2MR 2
MGR −g
θ̈ = − 2
θ= θ
2MR 2R
r
g
ω0 =
2R
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 10 / 39
DISC:
MR 2 3
I = + MR 2 = MR 2
2 2
MgR
ω02 = 3 2
2 MR
r
2g
ω0 =
3R

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 11 / 39
Problem 6
Write down the general solution for
(a) Underdamped oscillator
(b) Critically damped oscillator
(c) Overdamped oscillator
with initial condition

x(t = 0) = xo ẋ(t = 0) = vo

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 12 / 39
Solution: Problem 6
(a) Underdamped Oscillator
t
x(t) = Ae −γ 2 cos (ω ′ t − ϕ)
r
′ γ2
ω = ω02 −
4
At t=0: x = x0 v = v0 ;
t γ t
v (t) = Ae −γ 2 (− ) cos (ω ′ t − ϕ) + (−Ae −γ 2 ω ′ sin (ω ′ t − ϕ))
2
x0 = A cos ϕ
γ
Multiplying Both Sides by 2

γ γ
x0 = A cos ϕ
2 2
γ
v0 = − A cos ϕ + Aω ′ sin ϕ
2
Now Adding These Equations
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 13 / 39
 γ
x0 + v0 = Aω ′ sin ϕ
2
x0 = A cos ϕ
γ v0
A2 = ( ′ x0 + ′ )2 + x02
2ω ω
γ v0
′ x0 + ω ′
tan ϕ = 2ω
x0
γ v0
=( ′ + )
2ω x0 ω ′
r
v0 γx0 2
A = x02 + ( ′ + )
ω 2ω ′
v0 γ
tan ϕ = ′
+ ′
x0 ω 2ω

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 14 / 39
(b) Critically Damped Oscillator
γt
x = (A + Bt)e − 2
−γt γ γt
ẋ = Be + (A + Bt)(− )e − 2
2
2
−γ
x0 = A v0 = B + A( )
2
γA
B = v0 +
2
h γx0 i − γt
x = x0 + (v0 + )t e 2
2
t0 is Zero Crossing
γx0
x0 + (v0 + )t0 = 0
2
h γx0 i
v0 + t0 = −x0
2
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 15 / 39
(c) Overdamped Damped Oscillator
r
γ γ2
α1 = − + − ω02 = −γ1
2 4
r
γ γ2
α2 = − − − ω02 = −γ2
2 4
x = A1 e −γ1 t + A2 e −γ2 t
ẋ = −A1 γ1 e −γ1 t − A2 γ2 e −γ2 t
x0 = A1 + A2
v0 = −A1 γ1 − A2 γ2
v0 + γ2 x0 −γ1 t v0 + γ1 x0 −γ2 t
x= e − e
γ2 − γ1 γ2 − γ1
v0 − α2 x0 α1 t v0 − α1 x0 α2 t
= e − e
α1 − α2 α1 − α2

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 16 / 39
If v0 = 0
γ2 x0 −γ1 t γ1 x0 −γ2 t
x= e − e
γ2 − γ1 γ2 − γ1
 
γ2 γ1
= x0 e −γ1 t − e −γ2 t
γ2 − γ1 γ2 − γ1
If x0 = 0
v0
=⇒ x = [e −γ1 t − e −γ2 t ]
γ2 − γ1

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 17 / 39
Problem 7 (Problem 3.16 of A.P. French)
According to classical electromagnetic theory an accelerated electron
radiates energy at the rate Ke 2 a2 /c 3 , where K = 6 × 109 N − m2 /C 2 ,
e = electronic charge (C), a =instantaneous acceleration (ms −2 ), and c =
speed of light (m/sec).
(a) If an electron were oscillating along a straight line with frequency ν
(Hz) and amplitude A, how much energy would it radiate away during 1
cycle? (Assume that the motion is described adequately by x = A sin 2πνt
during any one cycle.)
(b) What is the Q of this oscillator?
(c) How many periods of oscillation would elapse before the energy of the
motion was down to half the initial value?
(d) Putting for ν a typical optical frequency (i.e., for visible light) estimate
numerically the approximate Q and ”half-life” of the radiating system.

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 18 / 39
Solution: Problem 7
Cant start with E = E0 e −γt , cause no γ is given and dE is not apriori
given to be proportional to −E . The loss mechanism is not due to viscous
drag so we have to first find an effective drag coeffecient b or γ.

dE ke 2
= 3 a2
dt c
x = A sin ωt
ẋ = Aω cos ωt
ẍ = −ω 2 A sin ωt
(a) Energy Loss in One Cycle
Z T
dE
∆E = ( ) dt
0 dt
T T
Ke 2
Z Z
4 2 2 1 1
= ω A sin ωt dt Now sin2 ωt dt =
c3 0 T 0 2
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 19 / 39
(a) Energy Loss in One Cycle

Ke 2 4 2 1
= ω A T×
c3 2

Ke 2 3 2 Ke 2 πω 3 A2 8π 4 ν 3 A2 Ke 2
2πω A = =
2c 3 c3 c3
ν = 4.62 × 1014 Hz
9.1 × 10−31 × (3 × 108 )3
2π × 6 × 109 × 1.6 × 10−19 × 4.62 × 1014 × 1.6 × 10−19
9.1 × 27 10−31 × 1024 × 109
×
2π × 6 × 1.62 × 4.62 109 × 10−19 × 1014
= 5 × 107 Joules

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 20 / 39
(b) Q Value Calculation
ω
Q=
γ
Ke 2 πω 3 A2
Energy Loss =
c3
Fdamp = bv ; Power = bv × v
Z T
= bv 2 dt
0
Z T
= γm v 2 dt
0
Z T
= γm (Aω)2 cos2 ωt dt
0
γmA2 ω 2 T 2πγmA2 ω
=
2 2
Ke πω 3 A2
2
πmA2 ωγ =
c3
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 21 / 39
 Ke 2 ω 2
γ=
mc 3
ω mc 3
Q= =
γ 2πKe 2 ν
(c)
E0
E = E0 e −γnT =
2
1 −ω −ω 2π
= e Q nT = e Q n ω
2
1 −2πn
ln =
2 Q
ln 2 × Q
=⇒ n =
2π

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 22 / 39
Problem 8 (Problem 3.19 of A.P. French)

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 23 / 39
Solution: Problem 8

mÿ = −2F sin θ

y
=⇒ mÿ = −2k(ℓ′ − ℓ0 )
ℓ′
y
(sin θ ≈ tan θ ≈ θ = )
ℓ′

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 24 / 39
 ℓ0 ℓ′
 
= −2ky 1 − ′ ′
ℓ ℓ
" #
ℓ0
= −2ky 1 − p
ℓ2 + y 2
 
y2 −1
 
ℓ0 ℓ0
= −2ky 1 −  = −2ky 1 − (1 + )
  2
2
1  ℓ ℓ2
ℓ 1 + yℓ2
2

   
ℓ0 ∆ℓ
≈ −2ky 1 − = −2k y
ℓ ℓ
 
2k ∆ℓ
ÿ = − y
m ℓ
r s   r
2k ∆ℓ 2k 1 2k α − 1
If ℓ = αℓ0 , ω = ( )= 1− =⇒ ω =
m ℓ m α m α
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 25 / 39
Problem 9
Link to simulation

4.5 A simple pendulum has a length of 1m. In free vibration the amplitude
falls off by a factor e in 50 swings The pendulum is set into forced
vibration by moving its point of suspension horizontally in SHM with an
amplitude of 1mm.
(a) Show that if the horizontal displacement of the bob is x and the
horizontal displacement of its point of suspension is ξ, the equation of
motion of the pendulum is

d 2x dx g g
2
+γ + x= ξ
dt dt ℓ ℓ
Solve the equation for steady state motion if ξ = ξo cos ωt
(b) At exact resonance, what is the amplitude of the motion of the
pendulum bob?
(c) At what angular frequencies is the amplitude half of its resonance
value?
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 26 / 39
 A(t)
A(t) = e −γt/2 A0 =⇒ = e −γt/2 = e −γ50T /2 = e −1
Ao
ωo 2π 50π
× 50 × = = 1 =⇒ Q = 50π
Q 2ωo Q

T = mg cos θ & F = −mg sin θ

mẍ = −mg sin θ − b ẋ

x −ξ
sin θ =
ℓ
b g g
ẍ + ẋ + x = ξ
m ℓ ℓ
At resonance
g ξ0 g ξ0
l l
A= p →p ≈ ξ0 Q = 50πmm
(ωo2 − ω 2 )2 + γ 2ω2 (γ)4 /4 + γ 2 ωo2
wine glass resonance
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 27 / 39
Problem 10
What is the condition for acceleration resonance? When is tanδ = ±1?
Relate this with bandwidth FWHM of power response.

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 28 / 39
Problem 11
4.6 Simple Seismograph as in figure below It consists of a mass m hung
from a spring on a rigid framework attached to the earth The spring force
and damping force depend on displacement and velocity relative to the
earth s surface but the dynamically significant acceleration is acceleration
of m relative to the fixed stars.
(a) Show that the equation of motion is

d 2y dy 2 d 2η
+ γ + ω o y = −
dt 2 dt dt 2
y is the displacement of m relative to earth and is displacement of earth s
surface itself
(b) Solve for y if η = C cos ωt
(c) Plot a graph of amplitude versus driving frequency
(d) Atypical long period seismometer has a period of about 30sec and
quality of Q = 2. As a result of earthquake the earth s surface oscillate
with a period of 20min and with an amplitude such that the maximum
acceleration −9 −2 . How small a value of the displacement of
Damped oscillators, is about
Tapomoy Guha10
Sarkar ms Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 29 / 39
The movement of the point of suspension makes it a non-inertial frame.
To write Newton’s law in non inertial frames we need to use pseudo forces.
mÿ − mA = −ky − b ẏ
With Fpseudo = mA, where A is the acceleration of the frame.
Here A = −η̈, where η is the position of the earth from the equilibrium
position (origin being the equilibrium position, negative sign is because y
is measured +ve in the vertical direction)
Thus
ÿ + γ ẏ + ω 2 y = −η̈
(b) η = C cos ωt or
ÿ = γ ÿ + ω 2 y = ω 2 C cos ωt
In steady state
ω2C
y=p cos(ωt − δ)
(ωo2 − ω 2 )2 + γ 2 ω 2
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 30 / 39
 ω2C
A(ω) = p
(ωo2 − ω 2 )2 + γ 2 ω 2

We have ω 2 C = 10−9 ms −2 . Also, γ = ωQ0 = 2π 1 π

30 2 = 30 sec
−1 .
2π
The driving frequency is ω = 20×60 sec −1 . This gives

10−9
A(ω) = q m = 0.23µm
[( 2π )2 − ( 2π 2 )]2 + ( π )2 ( 2π )2
30 20×60 30 20×60

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 31 / 39
 ω ω
In this problem two extreme limits are (a) ω0 << 1 & (b) ω0 >> 1
Case (a)
ω
<< 1
ω0
Thus the ω 2 term in the denominator can be neglected and we have

C ω2
A(ω) ≈
ω02
Case (b)
ω
>> 1
ω0

ω2C ω02 γ2
 
C
A(ω) = p ≈q ≈C 1+ 2 − 2
(ωo2 − ω 2 )2 + γ 2 ω 2 ω02 2 γ2 ω 2ω
(1 − ω2
) + ω2

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 32 / 39
In an inertial frame. Let the mass position be z ( wrt stars) , and y is the
coordinate wrt earth.
y =z −η
Spring force

−k(z − η) = −ky
Damping force
Fdamp = −b(ż − η̇) = −b ẏ

mz̈ = −ky − b ẏ
But we want equation in terms of y

m(ÿ + η̈) = −ky − b ẏ

and we get the same equation !

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 33 / 39
4.12
An object of mass 2Kg hangs from a spring of negligible mass. The spring
is extended by 2.5cm when the object is attached. The Top end of the
spring is oscillated up and down in SHM of amplitude 1mm. The Q of the
system is 15. (a) What is the ω0 of the system ? (b) What is the
amplitude of forced oscillator at ω = ω0 ? (c) What is the mean power
input to maintain oscillations at frequecny 2% greater that ω0 ?

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 34 / 39
(a) Natural frequency ω0
The spring constant is obtained from static equilibrium:
mg 2 × 9.81
k= = = 784.8 N/m.
∆x 0.025
Hence the natural angular frequency is
r r
k 784.8
ω0 = = = 19.81 rad/s.
m 2

ω0 ≈ 19.8 rad/s

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 35 / 39
(b) Amplitude at power resonance
Let the support displacement be y (t) = C cos ωt and the relative
displacement of the mass be z = x − y . Equation of motion for z is
equivalent to a forced oscillator with driving force
F0 = mω 2 C .
The steady-state amplitude is
ω2C
A= q ,
(ω02 − ω 2 )2 + γ 2 ω 2

where γ is the damping constant. and Q = ω0 /γ.

At power resonance ω = ω0 ,
A(ω0 ) = QC .
Numerically,
A(ω = ω0 ) = 15 × 0.001 m = 0.015 m (1.5 cm).
Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 36 / 39
(c) Mean power input at ω = 1.02 ω0

The mean power supplied equals the power dissipated:

Use F0 = mω 2 C and use the approximate near resonace formula for
average power to find mean power at ω = 1.02 ω0

P ≈ 0.093 W

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 37 / 39
4.10
The power input to maintain forced vibrations can be calculated by
recognizing that this power is the mean rate of doing work against the
resistive force −bv (a) Satisfy yourself that the instantaneous rate of
doing work against this force is bω 2 A2 /2

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 38 / 39
Assume the mass motion is x(t) = A cos(ωt − δ). The velocity is
v (t) = ẋ(t) = −Aω sin(ωt − δ).
The viscous resistive force is Fres = −b v (t). The instantaneous rate of
doing work against this resistive force (power dissipated) is

2
P(t) = −Fres v (t) = b v (t)2 = b Aω sin(ωt − δ) .
Hence the instantaneous power is

P(t) = bA2 ω 2 sin2 (ωt − δ).

2π
The time-average over one period T = is
ω
Z T Z T
1 1
2 2 1
P= P(t) dt = bA ω · sin2 (ωt − δ) dt = bA2 ω 2 · ,
T 0 T 0 2
since ⟨sin2 ⟩T = 1/2. Therefore

P= 1
2 b ω 2 A2 ,

Damped oscillators, Tapomoy Guha Sarkar Oscillations and Waves - PHY F101 39 / 39