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Questions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11


Physics 1101 Oscillations (SHM)

  1. A 1.75-kg particle moves as function of time as follows:

    x = 4cos(1.33t+π/5)

    where distance is measured in metres and time in seconds.
    (a) What is the amplitude, frequency, angular frequency, and period of this motion?
    (b) What is the equation of the velocity of this particle?
    (c) What is the equation of the acceleration of this particle?
    (d) What is the spring constant?
    (e) At what next time t > 0, will the object be:

    1. at equilibrium and have positive velocity,
    2. at equilibrium and have negative velocity,
    3. at maximum amplitude, and
    4. at minimum amplitude.

    (a) First write the general expression on top of the given expression

    x = Acos(ωt + Δ )
    x = 4cos(1.33t + π/5)

    Immediately, we get A = 4 m, ω = 1.33 rad/s, and Δ = π/5. Since ω = 2π / T = 2πf, we get T = 2π /1.33 rad/s = 4.724 s, and f = ω / 2π = 0.2117 s-1.

    (b) The velocity is given by the first derivative of position with respect to time

    v = -ωAsin(ωt + Δ) .

    With the given values, we get

    v = -5.32sin(1.33t + π/5) .

    (c) The acceleration is given by the second of position with respect to time, or the first derivative of the velocity with respect to time,

    a = -ω2A cos(ωt + π/5) .

    With the given values, we get

    a = -7.08cos(1.33t + π/5) .

    (d) We have the relation that ω2 = K/m, so

    K = ω2m = (1.33 rad/s)2(1.75 kg) = 3.0956 N/m .

    (e) (i) & (ii) We know that at equilibrium x = 0. We also know that there are two places where this happens, one where is the velocity is positive and the object is moving to the right, and one where the velocity is negative and the object is moving to the left. So first let's set x = 0,

    0 = 4cos(ωt + π/5) .

    We can divide through by 4, and we get

    0 = cos(ωt + π/5) .

    Taking the inverse of both sides, the solution is

    ωt + π/5 = cos-1(0) ,

    and thus,

    t = [cos-1(0) - π/5] / ω .

    Now cos-1(0) has many solutions, all the angles in radians for which the cosine is zero. Note however that your calculator will only give you one solution! You need to remember that there are more solutions and how they are related. This occurs for angles θ = π/2, θ = -π/2, θ = 3π/2, θ = -3π/2, and so on. This is usually expressed

    θ = nπ/2,       where n = ±1, ±3, ±5, …

    So our solutions for t are in the form

    t = [nπ/2 - π/5] / ω,       where n = ±1, ±3, ±5, …

    The first nonzero time when x = 0 occurs for n = +1,

    t1 = [π/2 - π/5] / = 0.7086 s.

    The second nonzero time occurs when n = +2,

    t2 = [3π/2 - π/5] / = 3.0707 s.

    To tell which has the object moving to the right and which to the left we examine the velocity

    v1 = -5.32sin(1.33t1 + π/5) = -5.32sin(π/2) = -5.32 m/s,

    v2 = -5.32sin(1.33t2 + π/5) = -5.32sin(3π/2) = +5.32 m/s.

    We see that the object is moving to the left, has negative velocity, at t = t1 = 0.7086 s, and is moving to the right at t = t2 = 3.0707 s.

    An alternate way of solving this problem is to consult the unit circle. At t = 0, the unit circle looks like the diagram below. Note that the x components of the vector indicates that at t = 0, x(0) > 0, v(0) < 0, and a(0) < 0.

    Now as we rotate counterclockwise with increasing time, there are two different positions on the unit circle where the position vector has no x component as shown below

    The earliest time that the position of the object is at zero is solved from

    1.33t1 + π/5 = π/2,

    which yields t1 = 0.7086 s. A glance at the left-hand graph indicates v < 0 here.

    The next time the position is zero is found from

    1.33t2 + π/5 = 3π/2,

    which yields t2 = 3.0707 s. A glance at the right-hand graph indicates v > 0 here.

    All subsequent points are separated by time period T.

    (iii) At maximum amplitude, x = +4, so we have

    4 = 4cos(ωt + π/5) .

    Dividing through by 4, we get

    1 = cos(ωt + π/5)

    Taking the inverse of both sides, the solution is

    ωt + π/5 = cos-1(1) ,

    and thus,

    t = [cos-1(1) - π/5] / ω .

    Now cos-1(1) has many solutions, all the angles in radians for which the cosine is plus one. This occurs for angles θ = 0, θ = 2π, θ = -2π, θ = 4π, θ = -4π, and so on. This is usually expressed

    θ = 2nπ,       where n = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3 , …

    So our solutions for t are in the form

    t = [2nπ - π/5] / ω,       where n = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3, …

    The first nonzero time when x = +4 occurs for n = +1,

    t = [2π - π/5] / ω = 4.2518 s.

    (iv) At minimum amplitude, x = -4, so we have

    -4 = 4cos(ωt + π/5) .

    Dividing through by 4, we get

    -1 = cos(ωt + π/5) .

    Taking the inverse of both sides, the solution is

    ωt + π/5 = cos-1(-1) ,

    and thus,

    t = [cos-1(-1) - π/5] / ω .

    Now cos-1(-1) has many solutions, all the angles in radians for which the cosine is negative one. This occurs for angles θ = π, θ = -π, θ = 3π, θ = -3π, and so on. This is usually expressed

    θ = nπ,       where n = ±1, ±3, ±5, …

    So our solutions for t are in the form

    t = [nπ - π/5] / ω,       where n = ±1, ±3, ±5, …

    The first nonzero time when x = -4 occurs for n = +1,

    t = [π - π/5] / ω = 1.8897 s.

    Our answers for (e) are thus

    (i) t = 3.071 s,
    (ii) t = 0.709 s,
    (iii) t = 4.25 s, and
    (iv) t = 1.89 s.

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  2. If the amplitude in Question #1 is doubled, how would yours answers change?

    Simple Harmonic Motion is independent of amplitude. Our answers to Question #1 would not change.

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  3. What are the equations for the potential and kinetic energies of the particle in Question #1? What is the total energy?

    The potential energy is spring potential energy and is given by U = ½Kx2, so

    U = ½(3.0956)[4cos(1.33t + π/5)] 2 = 24.76cos2(1.33t + π/5) .

    The kinetic energy is given by K = ½mv2, so

    K = ½(1.75)[-5.32sin(1.33t + π/5)] 2 = 24.76sin2(1.33t + π/5) .

    The total energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energies,

    E = U + K = 24.76 J .

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  4. The diagram below shows the motion of a 2.00-kg mass on a horizontal spring. Write down the equation of the displacement as a function of time. What is the spring constant? What is the total energy? What is the maximum speed? What is the maximum acceleration?

    Examining the graph we see that the largest displacement is 10 cm, so A = 0.10 m. We also see that the motion repeats every 0.2 seconds, so T = 0.2 s. Angular frequency is related to the period by ω = 2π/T, so ω = 10π. Thus far we have

    x = 0.10cos(10πt + Δ) ,

    where Δ is still unknown. To find Δ, we take a specific time and note the value of x. For instance, x = -0.075 m at t = 0, so we have

    -0.075 = 0.10cos(10π[0] + Δ) .

    This becomes cos(Δ) = -.75. Your caluclator will tell you that Δ = 138.6° or 0.77π. It is lying. There are infinitely many solutions to this problem. There are two solutions between -π and π, namely Δ1 = +0.77π and Δ2 = -0.77π. There are many other solutions Δ = ±0.77π + n2π, where n = 0, ±1, ±2, ±3, ? Any of these values is acceptable since the motion repeats itself every 2π. However, it is customary to keep Δ between -π and +π. To see which value is correct, notice from the graph that the velocity is positive at t = 0. We know that the velocity has the form v(t) = -ωAsin(ωt + Δ), so we can see which value of Δ gives the correct behaviour.

    For Δ = +0.77π, v(0) = -ωAsin(0.77π) < 0, since sin(0.77π) is positive.

    For Δ = -0.77π, v(0) = -ωAsin(-0.77π) > 0, since sin(-0.77π) is negative.

    Or we can consider the unit circle for each case

    Note that when Δ1 = +0.77π, the x component of the velocity is positive. When Δ2 = -0.77π, the x component of the velocity is negative.

    Thus we conclude that

    x = 0.10cos(10πt - 0.77π) .

    An examination of our relationships for SHM indicates that K = ω2m, E = ½KA2, vmax = ωA, and amax = ω2A, so

    K = (10π /s)2(2 kg) = 1974 N/m .

    E = ½(1974 N/m)(0.1 m)2 = 9.870 J .

    vmax = (10π/s)(0.1 m) = π m/s .

    amax = (10π/s) 2(0.1 m) = 9870 m/s2 .

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  5. The diagram below shows the velocity of a 2.00-kg mass on a horizontal spring. What is the maximum amplitude of the object's displacement? What is the maximum acceleration? Write down the equation of the displacement as a function of time. What is the spring constant? What is the total energy?

    The equation for the velocity of an object undergoing SHM has the form v(t) = -vmaxsin(ωt+Δ), where vmax = ωA and ω = 2π/T. Examining the graph, we see that the period is T = 0.1 s, so ω = 20π s-1. Also the maximum velocity is 5 m/s. From this we determine that A = vmax/ω = (5 m/s)/( 20π s-1) = 1/(4π) m = 0.0796 m. Furthermore, the maximum acceleration is amax = ω2A = ωvmax = 100π m/s2.

    The position equation for SHM is x(t) = Acos(ωt + Δ). We just found ω and A so all that is left to do is to find Δ. Again we look at the value of the graph at t = 0 which is v(0) = 2.40 m/s. So we have 2.40 = -5sin(Δ), or sin(Δ) = -0.48. There are two angles on the unit circle that satisfy this, Δ1 = -28.69° and Δ2 = -151.31°. We examine the unit circle for these possibilities

    The graph above indicates that the acceleration, the slope of the line tangent to the velocity curve, at t = 0 is positive. Thus the correct phase angle is Δ2 = -151.31° = -2.64 rad. Our equation is x(t) = (0.0796 m)cos(20πt - 2.64).

    The spring constant is given by ω2 = K/m, so K = (20π s-1)2(2.00 kg) = 7896 N/m.

    The total energy is Etotal = ½KA2 = 25 J.

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  6. The diagram below shows the acceleration of a 2.00-kg mass on a horizontal spring. What is the maximum amplitude of the object's displacement? What is the maximum velocity? Write down the equation of the displacement as a function of time. What is the spring constant? What is the total energy?

    The equation for the acceleration of an object undergoing SHM is has the form a(t) = -amaxcos(ωt+Δ), where amax = ω2A and ω = 2π/T. Examining the graph, we see that the period is T = 0.030 s, so ω = 200π/3 s-1. Also the maximum acceleration is 0.040 m/s2. From this we deduce that A = amax2 = (0.040 m/s2)/(200p/3 s-1)2 = 9.119 × 10-6 m. Furthermore, the maximum velocity is vmax = ωA = amax/ω = 1.9099 × 10-4 m/s.

    The position equation for SHM is x(t) = Acos(ωt + Δ). We just found ω and A so all that is left to do is to find Δ. Again we look at the value of the graph at t = 0 which is a(0) = 0.035 m/s. So we have 0.035 = -0.040cos(Δ), or cos(Δ) = -0.875. There are two angles on the unit circle that satisfy this, Δ1 = 151.04° and Δ2 = -151.04°. We examine the unit circle for these possibilities

    Now the only difference in the x components of these two graphs, is that Δ1 gives a negative velocity while Δ2 gives a positive velocity. To determine the sign of the velocity at t = 0 from the acceleration graph above, we need to integrate the area under the curve near t = 0. That area is positive, so the velocity needs to be positive. Thus the correct phase angle is Δ2 = -151.04° = -2.64 rad. Our equation is x(t) = (9.119 × 10-6 m)cos(200πt/3 - 2.64).

    The spring constant is given by ω2 = K/m, so K = (200π/3 s-1)2(2.00 kg) = 87730 N/m.

    The total energy is Etotal = ½KA2 = 3.65 × 10-6 J.

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  7. A horizontal spring with k = 200N/m has an attached mass of 0.150 kg. It is stretched and released. As the mass passes through the equilibrium point, its speed is 5.25 m/s. What was the amplitude of the motion?

    An examination of our relationships for SHM indicates that the velocity of a particle is at a maximum as it goes through equilibrium. So the problem has given use the maximum velocity. As well we have vmax = ωA, and ω = [K/m]½, so

    A = vmax / [K/m]½ = 5.25 m/s / [(200 N/m) / (0.15 kg)]½ = 0.144 m .

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  8. A block of mass M is on a frictionless surface as shown below. It is attached to a wall by two springs with the same constant K. Initially the block is at rest and the springs unstretched. The block is pulled a distance A and then released.
      What is the speed of the block as it passes through equilibrium?
    1. What is the angular frequency w of the motion?
    2. If the two springs were replaced by one spring so that ω remains the same, what would its spring constant have to be?

    i. The fact that we are looking for w indicates an SHM problem. It is not the simple one spring and block system we studied since there are two springs. However energy methods let us handle everything since we know Ef = Ei, hence we have

    2 × ½KA2 = ½Mv2

    Solving for v yields .

    ii. Now this is the maximum velocity of the block and we know for SHM that vmax = ωA. So .

    iii. For a single spring we know . Since ω and M are the same, Keffective = 2K. We replace the two springs with a single spring with twice the spring constant.

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  9. A disk of mass M is on a surface as shown below. It is attached to a wall by a spring of constant K. Initially the disk is at rest and the spring is unstretched. The disk is pulled a distance A and then released.
      What is the speed of the block as it passes through equilibrium?
    1. What is the angular frequency ω of the motion?

    i. The fact that we are looking for ω indicates an SHM problem. It is not that simple a spring and block system since there is also rolling. However energy methods let us handle everything since we know Ef = Ei, hence we have

    ½KA2 = ½Mv2 + ½Iωrolling2

    For a disk, I = ½Mr2. Since it is rolling, ωrolling = v/r. The above equation reduces to

    ½KA2 = ¾Mv2

    Solving for v yields .

    ii. Now this is the maximum velocity of the block and we know for SHM that vmax = ωA. So .

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  10. A stiff spring k = 400 N/m has be attached to the floor vertically. A mass of 6.00 kg is placed on top of the spring as shown below and it finds a new equilibrium point. If the block is pressed downward and released it oscillates. If the compression is too big, however, the block will lose contact with the spring at the maximum vertical extension. Draw a free body diagram and find that extension at which the block loses contact with the spring.

    The problem tells us that the block loses contact with the spring. That means the normal acting on the block goes to zero. Typically, for problems involving forces we draw the FBD and apply Newton's Second Law. However, we have always avoided doing this with springs because we are dealing with a non-constant force and a non-constant acceleration. We don't have this difficulty in this problem because we are told that the spring is at maximum extension, and thus we know that the acceleration is amax = ω2A downwards.

    j
    ΣFy = may
    N - mg = -mω2A

    The equation we have is

    N - mg = -mω2A .

    Setting N = 0, and rearranging yields

    A = g /ω2 .

    Our relationships for SHM tell us that ω = [K/m]½, so

    A = g / [K/m] = (9.81 m/s2) / [ (400 N/m) / (6 kg)] = 14.7 cm .

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  11. In the diagram below, a mass on a string of length L encounters a nail positioned a distance L/n from the bottom of the string when the string hangs vertical. What is the period of this "interrupted" pendulum?

    Examining the motion we see that the object swings for half the motion on a string of length L, and the other half as a string of length L/n. From the period of a pendulum, we know how long each of these motion are. Therefore the total time is

    T = ½T1 + ½T2 = π{[L/g]½ + [L/(ng)]½} .

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