1st Class

B.Tech.2nd semester.(Physics)SHM

Iva Rani Deka

Associate Professor, Dept of Physics AEC, Jalukbari.

Syllabus:
Harmonic oscillator, Damped Harmonic motion, over

damped, critically damped and under damped oscillations,

Forced oscillations and resonance

5lectures
1
 Simple harmonic oscillator:

When a body moves such a way that its

acceleration is towards a certain fixed point
and varies directly as its distance from that
point. The body is said to be execute SHM. A
particle or a system which executes SHM is
called Simple Harmonic Oscillator.
2
Mathematically , a linear S.H.M. May be regarded as a
projection of a uniform circular motion, or a rotating vector, on
the diameter of a circle or any other fixed line in the plane of a
circle .
Figure for SHM

3
Motion of the mass on a spring when it is subjected to the linear
elastic restoring force. ( Hook's law), the motion is sinusoidal.

4
Simple harmonic oscillator is an oscillatory system which satisfy
the following properties:

1. Motion is about its equilibrium position at which point no net force acts
on the system.

2. The restoring force is proportional to and oppositely directed to its

displacement.

Some familiar examples of simple harmonic motion

a. Linear:

b. Angular:

5
(a) Linear

1. Up and down oscillations of the piston of a cylinder

containing a gas, when suddenly pressed down and released.

2. Oscillation of mercury or water contained in a U-tube, when

the column in one limb is depressed and released

3. The vertical oscillations of an elastic string suspended from a

rigid support and loaded at its lower end.

6
(b) Angular

1. The oscillation of a pendulum, provided the amplitude be

small.

2. The oscillation of a magnet suspended freely in a magnetic

field.

3. Torsional oscillation , (Torsional pendulum, oscillation of

cradle )

7
Torsional oscillation

8
 Differential equation of SHM:

Consider a particle of mass m executing SHM. If the

displacement if the particle is from the equilibrium position at
any instant y, and restoring force F acts on the particle is given
by

Or Fy , -ve sign for direction of force is opposite to

the increasing displacement, k is proportionality constant

F = −ky ------ (1)

9
 d2y
If is acceleration of the particle at time t ,
dt 2

d2y
Then m 2 = −ky
dt
d2y k
or 2
+ y=0 -------- (2)
dt m

Substituting ω² = k/m
We get
2
d y
+  y = 0 --------- (3)
2
2
This is the general differential
dt
equation of motion of a Simple Harmonic Oscillator.

10
 Solution of differential equation for SHM:

d2y
To find the solution of a differential equation 2
+2 y = 0 --- (1)
dt

Multiply both sides by dy

2
2
dt
We get 2 dy d y +  2 y dy = 0
2
2

dt dt dt

2
Integrating we have  dy  ------(2) where C is the
  = − y + C
2 2

 dt 
constant of integration.

11
When the displacement is maximum i.e. ,at y=a, where a is the
amplitude of the oscillation of the particle,

dy
Then dt
=0 that is the particle is momentarily at rest at
rest in the extreme position and begins its journey the
backward direction.
dy
Substituting y=a and =0 in equation (2) we have C=a²ω²
dt
2

Substituting the value of C in (2) we get  dy 

 (
 = a − y
2 2 2
)
 dt 
dy
Or dt
=  a2 − y2 ------- (3)
dy
Therefore = dt
a −y2 2

12
Integrating we have, y
sin −1 = t + 
a

Where φ is another constant of integration.

Or y = a sin(t +  )
the term (ωt+φ) represents the total phase of the particle at
time t. And φ is known as the initial phase or phase constant.
If the time is recorded from the instant when y=0, and
increasing then φ =0. Below are the various general solutions:
y = a sin(t +  ),
y = a cos(t +  )
y = A sin(t +  ) + B cos(t +  )
y = ae i (t + ) ----------------------- Exponential form

13
 Expression for velocity

Displacement equation for SHO is y = a sin (t +  )

Velocity is rate of change of displacement. So differencing w.r.t. t
dy
v= = a cos(t +  )
dt
 
= a sin  t +  + 
 2

As sin(ωt+φ)=y/a, cos(ωt+φ)= 1 − y 2 = a − y hence, v =  a2 − y2

2 2 2

a a
Velocity of the oscillator is maximum when sin(ωt+φ+π/2)=1, v(max)=aω
At v(max), y=0, the particle is at mean position.
Velocity of SHO at any instant of time t leads the displacement by a phase
difference π/2 (or 90°) i.e. Are in two quadrature.

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 Expression for acceleration

Acceleration is defined as the time rate of change of velocity

now velocity v=aωcos(ωt+φ)

d2y
Acceleration= 2
= −a 2 sin(t +  )
dt
d2y
2
= a 2
sin(t +  +  )
dt

The acc. of the oscillator

d y
2
is maximum when sin(ωt+φ+π)=1
  = a 2

That is,--------  dt 2

max

Acceleration and displacement are antiphase, acc. Leads the

displacement by π radian.

15
 Expression for periodic time and frequency of a SHM:

A SHM is represented by the equation

Y=asin(ωt+φ), in this equation if we increase t by 2π/ω then
or Y=asin[ω(t+ 2π/ω )+φ]
or Y=asin[ωt+ 2π +φ]
or y=asin(ωt+φ)
That is displacement of the particle after a time T= 2π/ω is same.
Hence T gives the time period of SHO.
1 2
therefore T= 2π/ω and frequency f = T = 
Thus ω= 2πf= angular velocity of harmonic oscillator. The acceleration of the
SHO is given by
d2y
2
= − 2 y
dt

16
Neglecting the negative sign,

We have,
d2y
dt 2 acceleration
 =
2
=
y displacement
acceleration
=
displacement
2 displacement
T = = 2
 acceleration
1 1 acceleration
frequency( f ) = =
T 2 displacement

17
 Expression for energy of a simple harmonic oscillator

• Total energy at any time is E = KE+PE

1
K .E. = mv 2
2
v = a cos(t +  )
1
 K .E. = ma 2 2 cos 2 (t +  ) ----------- (1)
2
1
 ( K .E.) max = m 2 a 2
2
• P.E. It is amount of work done in overcoming the restoring force from the
mean position through a displacement y.
Restoring force =mω²y=ky (we already assume ω²=k/m )
d2y
= − a 2
sin ( t +  ) = − 2
y
dt 2

18
Total work done by the force through a distance

Potential energy y
1 1
y =  kydy = ky 2 = m 2 y
0
2 2

m 2 a 2 sin 2 (t +  )
1
y= --------- (2)
2
(P.E.max ) = 1 ma 2 2
2

From (1) and (2) Total energy = K.E.+P.E

 
= m 2 a 2 sin 2 (t +  ) + cos 2 (t +  )
1
2
= m 2 a 2 = (K .E.)max + (P.E.)max
1
2

19
 Questions

1. show that for a particle executing SHM the average value of kinetic
energy and potential energy is the same and each is equal to half the
total energy.

Hints. Average K.E. Is 1/T times of the integration of K.E. From zero to T
Average P.E. Is also 1/T times of the integration of P.E. From zero to T
And result is 1 m 2 a 2 which is half of total energy 1 m 2 a 2
4 2

2. A simple harmonic oscillator characterised by y=acosωt calculate

displacement at which Kinetic energy is equal to potential energy.

a
( Ans: y= )
2

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