Midterm Examination
Department of Physics
COMSATS University Islamabad
Course Title: Waves and Oscillations (PHY230)
Date: 1.11.2025 Max. marks: 25
Max. time: 1 hr. 20 min.
1 a) The circle having radius 10 𝑐𝑚 is divided into 12 equal sectors as shown 𝑷
in 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 60 𝑠. Obtain an expression for the 𝑥-coordinate of the line
̅̅̅̅
𝑶𝑷 of the form 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙), giving the numerical values of 𝒙
𝑶
𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙. (4)
b) Find the values of 𝑥, 𝑥̇ and 𝑥̈ at 𝑡 = 10 𝑠. (4)
Solution:
a) The minute hand makes a full circle in 60 𝑠. Therefore, the angular frequency is:
2𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝜔 = 60 𝑠 = 0.105 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 −1
The maximum value of the the 𝑥-coordinate of the tip of the minute hand is equal to its length, so
𝐴 = 10 𝑐𝑚
At time 𝑡 = 0, the angle between the minute hand and the 𝑥-axis is 60°. This gives:
𝜋
𝜙=
3
𝜋
This gives: 𝑥(𝑡) = 10𝑐𝑜𝑠 (0.105𝑡 + ) 𝑐𝑚
3
𝜋
b) At 𝑡 = 10 𝑠 𝑥(𝑡) = 10𝑐𝑜𝑠 (1.05 + 3 ) 𝑐𝑚 = 10 × (−0.502) 𝑐𝑚
𝑥(𝑡) = −5.02 𝑐𝑚
The velocity is given by: 𝑥̇ (𝑡) = −𝐴𝜔𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
Substituting values of 𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙, 𝑥̇ (𝑡) = −0.91 𝑐𝑚𝑠 −1
The acceleration is given by: 𝑥̈ (𝑡) = 𝐴𝜔2 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
Substituting values of 𝐴, 𝜔 and 𝜙, 𝑥̈ (𝑡) = −0.055 𝑐𝑚𝑠 −2
2. A bead of mass 𝑚 on a string (of negligible mass) and length
2𝑙 carries out simple harmonic motion about its equilibrium
position as shown in the figure on the right. Find the natural 𝒚
frequency of oscillations. (5)
Solution:
The restoring force on the object is provided by the vertical component of the tension as shown in the
figure below.
𝜽 𝟐𝑻𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
𝟐𝒍
Taking the vertical direction as the 𝑦-axis, Newton’s second law is:
𝑚𝑦̈ = −2𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑦
Using the geometry of the figure 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 ≅ 𝑙
For small 𝜃 (as is the condition for SHM), 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≅ 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃. So, the equation of motion is:
2𝑇
𝑦̈ + 𝑦 =0
𝑚𝑙
Comparing with the standard form for the equation of motion for a simple harmonic oscillator:
𝑦̈ + 𝜔𝑜2 𝑦 = 0
gives the natural frequency of oscillations:
2𝑇
𝜔𝑜 = √
𝑚𝑙
3. The total energy of a damped harmonic oscillator at time 𝑡 is the sum of its potential and kinetic
1 1 𝑑𝐸
energies, 𝐸 = 2 𝑚𝑥̇ 2 + 2 𝑠𝑥 2 . Show that the rate of energy loss 𝑑𝑡 = −𝑟𝑥̇ 2 , where 𝑟 is the damping
coefficient. (5)
Solution:
𝑑𝐸 𝑑 1 1
The rate of energy loss is: = ( 𝑚𝑥̇ 2 + 𝑠𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 2 2
= 𝑚𝑥̇ 𝑥̈ + 𝑠𝑥̇ 𝑥
= (𝑚𝑥̈ + 𝑠𝑥)𝑥̇
The equation of motion of a damped harmonic oscillator is:
𝑚𝑥̈ + 𝑟𝑥̇ + 𝑠𝑥 = 0
Therefore, 𝑚𝑥̈ + 𝑠𝑥 = −𝑟𝑥̇
Substituting this in the energy loss equation gives:
𝑑𝐸
𝑑𝑡
= −𝑟𝑥̇ 2
4. The equation of motion for an undamped harmonic oscillator driven by a force of frequency 𝜔 is
𝐹
given by 𝑥̈ + 𝜔𝑜2 𝑥 = 𝑚𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡, where 𝐹𝑜 is the amplitude of the driving force.
a) Use the steady state solution 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡 to find the amplitude 𝐴. (4)
b) Plot 𝐴 as a function of 𝜔 and explain the behavior of the graph. What is the physical meaning of 𝐴 <
0? (3)
Solution:
a) Given 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡
𝑥̇ = 𝑖𝜔𝐴𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡 = 𝑖𝜔𝑥
and 𝑥̈ (𝑡) = (𝑖𝜔)2 𝐴𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡 = −𝜔2 𝑥
Substituting in the equation of motion:
𝐹𝑜
(−𝜔2 + 𝜔𝑜2 )𝐴𝑒 𝑖𝜔𝑡 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡
𝑚
𝐹𝑜
(−𝜔2 + 𝜔𝑜2 )𝐴(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 + 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡
𝑚
Comparing the real parts of the above equation:
𝐹𝑜
(−𝜔2 + 𝜔𝑜2 )𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑡 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡
𝑚
𝐹𝑜 ⁄𝑚
Therefore: 𝐴= 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜔𝑡
(𝜔𝑜2 −𝜔2 )
b) The following conclusions are drawn from the expression for the amplitude obtained in part a):
• at 𝜔 = 0 𝐴=0 𝐴(𝜔)
• at 𝜔 = 𝜔𝑜 𝐴→∞
• for 𝜔 > 𝜔𝑜 𝐴<0
• as 𝜔 → ∞ 𝐴→0
This information is graphically represented on the right. At 𝜔𝑜 𝜔
𝜔 = 𝜔𝑜 , the phenomenon of resonance is observed. For 𝜔 > 𝜔𝑜 ,
𝐴 < 0. This means that the object is moving out of phase with the
driving frequency.