MODULE 7: OSCILLATIONS

1. A body in simple harmonic motion has a velocity of 8cm/s when its displacement is 2cm and a velocity of 2
cm/s when the displacement is 8 cm. what is the amplitude of the oscillation?

Given: V1 = 8 cm/s = 0.08 m/s xi = 2cm = 0.02 m Required: Amplitude, A = ?

V2 = 2 cm/s = 0.02 m/s x2 = 8cm = 0.08 m

Solution:
When x = 0.02 m: When x = 0.08 m:
V =ω √ A −x V =ω √ A −x
2 2 2 2

m m
0.08 =ω √ A −( 0.02 m ) 0.02 =ω √ A −( 0.08 m )
2 2 2 2
s s
2 2
m m
0.0064 2 =ω2 [ A 2−( 0.02 m ) ] 0.0004 2 =ω2 [ A 2−( 0.08 m ) ]
2 2

s s

√ √
2 2
m m
0.0064 0.0004
s
2 ----- Eqn 1 s
2
2
----- Eqn 2
ω= 2 2
A= 2
+ 0.0064 m
A −0.0004 m ω

√(√
Solving both equations simultaneously:

√
2
m m
2
0.0004 2 0.0004
s s
2
A= +0.0064 m2 A= +0.0064 m
2

)
2 2
m2 m
0.0064 0.0064 2
s2 s
2 2
A2−0.0004 m2 A −0.0004 m

√
2 2
( 0.0064 ) ( A 2−0.0064 )=( 0.0004 ) ( A 2−0.0004 ) ( 0.0064 ) −( 0.0004 )
A= =0.08246211251 m
0.0064−0.0004
2 2 2 2
0.0064 A −0.0004 A = ( 0.0064 ) −( 0.0004 ) A=0.0825 m

2. The equation of motion of a particle started at t=0 is given by x = 10sin(10t+π/3) where x is in centimeter and
t in second. (a) at what time will the particle come to rest?, (b) the time it will have a zero acceleration, and (c)
the maximum speed.

Given: x=10 sin 10 t + ( π

3 )
A = 10 cm Required: a. t when A = 10cm

 = 10 rad/s b. t when a = 0 m/s2

c. maximum speed, Vmax
Solution:
a. Time the particle will come to rest: b. Time it will have a zero acceleration:

(
x=10 sin 10 t +
π
3 ) a=ω x
2
[
a=ω 2 10 sin 10t + ( π
3 )]
10=10sin 10 t+ ( π
3 ) (
0=10 sin 10 t+
π
3), but 0=sinπ
 (
1=sin 10 t+
π
3), but 1=sin
π
2 (
sinπ=sin 10 t +
π
3 )
π
π
2 (
sin =sin 10 t+
π
3 ) π=10 t +
π
3 t=
π−
10
3
=0.2094395102
π π
=10 t + t=0.2094 s
2 3
π π
−
2 3 c. The maximum speed:
t= =0.05235987756 s
10
t=0.0524 s V max =ωA= (10 rad /s )( 10 cm )=100 cm/s
V max =100 cm/s
3. A mass 2.5 kg is suspended through a vertical spring experiences simple harmonic motion with period 6
seconds. If the oscillations are stopped and the body hangs in equilibrium, determine the potential energy
stored in the spring.

Given: m = 2.5 kg T = 6s Required: Elastic potential energy, Uel

Solution:

T =2 π
√ m
k
2
T =( 2 π )
2 m
k
F=−kx x=
−F −mg
k
=
k

k= 2
2
m ( 2 π ) ( 2.5 kg ) ( 2 π )
= 2
2
=2.7416
N
x=
( )
m
−( 2.5 kg ) 9.8 2
s
=−8.9364 m
T (6 s ) m N
2.7416
m

1 1
(
U el = k x 2= 2.7416
2 2
N
m
(−8.9364 m )2 ) U el =109.4711 N

4. What period would you expect from a pendulum of length 0.5 m on the moon where g = 1.6 m/s 2? will the
period be the same when the pendulum is on earth? What is the value?

Given: g = 1.6 m/s2 L = 0.5 m Required: a. TE and TM

b. Will the values be the same?
Solution:
a.1 Period when pendulum is on the moon: a.2 Period when pendulum is on earth:

T =2 π
l
g√=2 π

T =0.5590 s
0.5 m
1.6 m/s√2
=0.5590169944 T =2 π
l
g√=2 π

T =0.2259 s
√
0.5 m
9.8 m/ s
2
=0.2258769757

b. Will the values be the same:

The period on the moon is greater than that of the earth due o difference in gravitational forces.
5. A 2kg mass is attached to one end of a spring with spring constant of 2kN/m. the period of the spring is twice
as the as the period when it is considered as a simple pendulum. What is the length of the of spring?

Given: k = 2 kN/m m = 2 kg Required: Length of the spring, l

= 0.002 N/m

Solution:

2 T =2 π
√ m
k
T =π
√ m
k
T =π
√ l
g
2
T =π
2 l
g

T =π
m
k √ √
=π
2 kg
0.002 N /m l=
gT
=
( 9.8
2
s )
m
( 99.3459 s )
2
2

π2 π2
T =99.3459 s l=9800.0034 m

Practice Problems:
1. When a body of unkown mass is attached to an ideal spring with force constant 120 N/m, it is found to vibrate
with a frequency of 6.00 Hz. Find (a) the period of the motion; (b) the angular frequency; (c) the mass of the
body.

Given: k = 120 N/m f = 6Hz Required: a. Period of motion, T

b. Angular frequency, 
c. Mass of the body, m
Solution:
a. Period of the motion: c. Mass of the body:
1
T= =
1
f 6 Hz
=0.16666666667 s f=
1
2π
k
√ k
m
120 N /m
1
f 2=
(2 π ) 2
k
m ( )
T =0.1667 s m= 2 2
= 2 2
f ( 2 π ) ( 6 Hz ) ( 2 π )
m=0.0844343197 kg
b. The angular frequency: m=0.0844 kg
ω
f= ω=2 πf
2π
ω=2 π ( 6 Hz )=37.69911184
ω=37.6991 rad / s

2. A small block is atached to an ideal spring and is moving in SHM on horizontal, frictionless surface. When the
block is at x = 0.280 m, the acceleration of the block is –5.30 m/s 2. What is the frequency of the motion.

Given: a = –5.30 m/s2 x = 0.280 m Required: Frequency, f

Solution:
 a=−ω 2 x ω=
√ −a
x
f=
ω 4.3507 rad / s
2π
=
2π
=0.6924354109

√ ( )
m
− −5.3
s
2
f =0.6924 s−1
ω= =4.3507 rad / s
0.28 m

3. A 1.50-kg mass on a spring has displacement as a function of time given by the equation:

x(t) = (7.40 cm)cos[(4.16/s)t]

Find (a) time for one complete vibration; (b) the force constant of the spring; (c) the maximum speed of the
mass; (d) the maximum force on the mass; (e) the position, speed, and acceleration of the mass at t = 1sec (f)
the force on the mass at that time.

Given: A = 7.4 cm = 0.074 m  = 4.16/s

Required: a. Time for complete vibration, T d. Maximum force of the mass, Fmax
b. Force constant, k e. Position, Speed, Acceleration – x, V, a (at t = 1 sec)
c. Maximum speed of the mass, Vmax f. Force at time, F

Solution:
a. Time for complete vibration: e.1 Position at t = 1 second:
2π 2π
T= = =1.510381083 x (1)=(0.074 m) cos [(4.16 /s)(1 s)]
ω 4.16 /s
T =1.5104 s x=−0.0388 m

b. Force constant: e.2 Speed at t = 1 second:

ω=
√ k
m
k =m ω
2
V =ω √ A 2−x 2

V = ( 4.16/ s ) √ ( 0.074 m ) −(−0.0 3 8 8 m )

2 2 2
k =( 1.5 kg ) ( 4.16 / s )
k =25.9584 N /m V =0.2621 m/s

c. Maximum speed of the mass: e.3 Acceleration at t = 1 second:

( )
2
2 4.16 (
V max =ωA= ( 0.074 m )( 4.16/s ) a=−ω x=− −0.0388 m )
s
V max =0.3078 m/s a=0.6715 m/ s
2

d. Maximum force of the mass: f. Force at t = 1 second:

F=−kA=− 25.9584( N
m )
( 0.074 m ) (
F=−kx =− 25.9584
N
m )
(−0.0 3 8 8 m )

F=−1.9209 N F=1.0072 N
4. A guitar string vibrates at a frequency of 440 Hz. A point at its center moves in SHM with an amplitude of 3.0
mm. (a) Write an equation for the position of the center of the spring as a function of time. (b) What are the
maximum values of the magnitudes of the velocity and acceleration of the center of the string?

Given: A = 3mm = 0.003 m f = 440 Hz Required: a. Equation of position as function of time

b. Maximum velocity and acceleration
Solution:
a. Equation of position as function of time: b.1 Maximum velocity:
ω
f= ω=2 π f V max =ωA= ( 880 π /s ) ( 0.003 m )
2π
ω=2 π ( 440/s )=880 π /s V max =8.2938 m/s

x ( t )=( 0.003 m ) cos ([ 880s π ) t ]

b.2 Maximum acceleration:
a max=−ω2 A=− ( 880 π / s )2 ( 0.003 m)
2
a max=−22929.0649m/ s

5. A cheerleader waves her pom-pom in SHM with an amplitude of 18.0 cm and a frequency of 0.850 Hz. Find (a)
the maximum magnitude of the acceleration and of the velocity; (b) the acceleration and speed when the pom-
pom’s coordinate is x = +9.0 cm.

Given: A = 18 cm = 0.18 m f = 0.85 Hz Required: a. Maximum acceleration and velocity

x = 9cm = 0.09 m b. Acceleration and speed when x = +9cm

Solution:
ω
f= ω=2 πf ω=2 π ( 0.85 /s )=1.7 π /s
2π

a.1 Maximum acceleration: a.2 Maximum velocity:

2 2
a max=−ω A=( 1.7 π / s ) ( 0.18 m ) V max =ωA= (1.7 π /s ) ( 0.18 m )
a max=−5.1342m/s
2
V max =0.9613 m/s

b.1 Speed when x = +9.0 cm: b.2 Acceleration x = +9.0 cm:

V =ω √ A −x2 2
a=−ω 2 x=− (1.7 π / s )2 ( 0.0 9 m )
V = (1.7 π /s ) √ ( 0.18 m ) −( 0.0 9 m )
2 2
a=2.5671 m/ s2
V =0.8325 m/ s

6. A certain simple pendulum has a period on the earth of 1.60 s. What is the period on the surface of Mars, where
g = 3.71 m/s2?

Given: g = 3.71 m/s2 T = 1.60 s Required: TM = ?

Solution:

√
0.6355 m
T =2 π
√ l
g
T 2= ( 2 π ) 2 ()
l
g
T =2 π
m
3.71 2
s
=2.600463072 s

l=
gT
=
(2
9.8
s )
m
( 1.6 s )
2
2

T M =2.6005 s
2 2
(2 π ) (2 π )
l=0.6355 m