Lecture 06

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 Forced Oscillation
• Free oscillations involve zero external input
of energy into an oscillating system. Only the internal
forces acting on the system are present. In reality, a free
oscillation will always come to rest unless the system is
oscillating in a vacuum with no resistive forces acting.
• The vibration of a body die out with time due to the
dissipation of energy. (Damping)

• If some external periodic force is constantly applied to Motion of a swing

the body, it continues to oscillate under the influence of
such external force. Such vibration of the body are called
FORCED VIBRATIONS.

• Forced oscillations involve the input of an external force

to overcome resistive forces and allow the oscillator to
continue to oscillate without a loss in
displacement. The frequency at which the external force
is applied is known as the driving frequency .
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 Examples of Forced Oscillation
A mechanism inside the clock
periodically provides a small
push to the pendulum, ensuring
it continues to swing at a
consistent frequency.

A bow on a violin string acts as a forced

oscillation. The bow constantly supplies energy
to the string, allowing it to sustain its vibration
and produce sound continuously.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940

Strong winds matched the bridge's natural frequency,

leading to resonance and eventually its catastrophic failure.

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 How Does Microwaves Cook Food?
• The microwave oven generates electromagnetic waves at a
specific frequency (around 2.45 GHz). These waves create an
oscillating electric field that acts as an external “force” applied to
the water molecules in the food.
• Water molecules are polar, meaning they have a positive and a
negative end. An applied electric field produces a torque on an
electric dipole moment to align with the electric field. Because
the oven’s electric field oscillates, the water molecules
continuously flip-flop in a frustrated attempt to align with
electric field.
• The forced oscillation on the water molecules creates internal
friction as they bump into each other, and this friction generates
heat. The more the molecules are forced to oscillate, the more
energy they dissipate as heat, which cooks the food.

In microwave heating, the oscillation isn’t a physical

displacement of particles back and forth but rather a
rotational movement within each molecule, driven by the
rapid changes in the electric field.
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 Differential equation of a forced oscillator
If damping is taken into consideration for an
oscillator, then oscillator experiences 𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
m +ky +𝑏 =Fo𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡
𝑑𝑡2 𝑑𝑡
(i) Restoring Force : 𝐹𝑟= −𝑘𝑦;
𝑑2𝑦 𝑏 𝑑𝑦 𝑘 Fo
𝑑𝑦 + + y = 𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡
(ii) Damping Force : 𝐹𝑑 = −𝑏 ; 𝑑𝑡2 𝑚 𝑑𝑡 𝑚 𝑚
𝑑𝑡
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
(iii)Let an external force is applied to the damped +2p +𝜔2y= 𝑓𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 (1)
𝑑𝑡2 𝑑𝑡

oscillator which given by, Fe= Fo 𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 Equation (1) is a 2nd order 1st degree differential
(iv) We, therefore, can write the equation of the equation for forced vibration.
forced oscillation as, 𝐹 = 𝐹𝑑+ 𝐹𝑟+Fe Fo
Where, 𝑓= is the amplitude of driving force per unit
𝑚
Combination of Hook’s law and Newton’s 2nd law
mass.
𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝒅𝒚
of motion gives us, m = -ky -𝑏 + Fo𝒆𝒊𝒒𝒕
𝒅𝒕𝟐 𝒅𝒕

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Solution: B sinφ 2pq
tanφ =B cosφ= (𝝎𝟐−q𝟐)
Let us consider the trial solution of equation (1),
y=A𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 (2) Substituting these values in the equation (3),
𝑑𝑦 𝑓 𝑓
Or, = Aiq𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 A= = B𝑒 𝑖φ
𝑑𝑡 B (cosφ +isinφ)
𝑑2𝑦
Or, = -q2A𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡
𝑑𝑡2
𝑓𝑒 −𝑖φ
Using these values in equation (1), So, A =
4p2q2 + 𝜔2−q2 2

-q2A𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 + 2p Aiq𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 + 𝜔2A𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 = 𝑓𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡

Substituting A in equation (6.2),
Or, A[-q2+ 2ipq + 𝜔2]= 𝑓
𝒇
Or, A =
𝒇
(3) y= 𝒆𝒊(𝒒𝒕−𝝋) (4)
(𝝎𝟐−q𝟐)+i2pq 4p2q2 + 𝟐
𝝎 −q𝟐 𝟐

Let, (𝜔2−q2) = B cosφ and 2pq = B sinφ

Equation (4) represents a forced SHM with the angular
B2 = B2 cos2φ + B2 sin2φ
frequency q (same as the external or driving force). The
= 4p2q2 + 𝜔2−q2 2
forced SHM will be lagging behind the force by a phase φ.
So, B= 4p2q2 + 𝜔2−q2 2

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Now, equation (1) is an inhomogeneous differential equation. Hence, y=A𝑒 𝑖𝑞𝑡 is not really a complete
solution.
The solution will be complete if a complementary function is added which is a solution of the related
homogeneous equation,
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
+ 2p +𝜔2y= 0
𝑑𝑡2 𝑑𝑡
Here, applying the boundary condition another solution can be obtained when Fo=0.
This corresponds to the oscillatory motion in presence of damping for which the solution is,
y =𝑎𝑒 − 𝑝𝑡 cos 𝜔2 − 𝑝2 𝑡− γ
Here, a and γ are the constants depending on the initial condition.
So, the general solution of the equation (6.1) is,

𝒇
y =𝑎𝒆− 𝒑𝒕 cos 𝝎𝟐 − 𝒑𝟐 𝒕− γ + 𝒆𝒊(𝒒𝒕−𝝋) (5)
4p2q2 + 𝝎𝟐−q𝟐 𝟐

The 1st part of the solution represent the initial damped oscillation with the angular frequency 𝝎𝟐 − 𝒑𝟐
and the amplitude decaying exponentially to zero. The 2nd part of the solution represents the forced vibration
with the angular frequency 𝒒 and the constant amplitude A.
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 Resonance
• When the forced frequency is equal to the natural frequency of oscillator the oscillation will have
maximum amplitude and the state of oscillation of a system is called RESONANCE. The amplitude of a
𝑓
forced oscillator is A =
4p2q2 + 𝜔2−q2 2

• “A” will be maximum when the denominator is the minimum. That means when,
𝑑 2q2
[4p + 𝜔2−q2 2] = 0
𝑑𝑞

Or, 8𝑝2𝑞 + 2 𝜔2−q2 (-2q) = 0

Or, - 4q [ 𝜔2−q2 - 2𝑝2] = 0
Or, 𝜔2−q2 - 2𝑝2 = 0 [since q ≠ 0]
Or, q2= 𝜔2- 2𝑝2

𝑏2
∴q= 𝜔2− 2𝑝2 = 𝜔2 − 2𝑚2 [since, 𝜔2> 2𝑝2 and 2p=b/m]

𝝎𝟐− 𝟐𝒑𝟐
The resonance frequency, fR = , for which A is the maximum.
𝟐𝝅

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Although the amplitude of the seismic waves was small in the firmer ground on
route to Mexico City, their amplitude substantially increased in the loose soil of the
city. The wave’s angular frequency was (surprisingly) concentrated around 3
rad/s. Not only was the ground severely oscillated, but many intermediate-height
buildings had resonant angular frequencies of about 3 rad/s. Most of those
buildings collapsed during the shaking (Fig. 1), while shorter buildings (with
higher resonant angular frequencies) and taller buildings (with lower resonant
angular frequencies) remained
standing.

Fig. 1: In 1985, buildings of intermediate

height collapsed in Mexico City as a
result of an earthquake far from the city.
Taller and shorter buildings remained
standing.

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 Sharpness of resonance
Sharpness of resonance is referred to the fall in
amplitude with the change in frequency on each

Amplitude,
side of the maximum amplitude.

A
The amplitude of a forced oscillator is
𝑓
A=
4p2q2 + 𝜔2−q2 2

(i) For small damping, damping constant p is

𝑓
low and q=ω, Amax = . The resonance 𝑞𝑜
2𝑝𝑞 𝑞𝑜 3𝑞𝑜
2 2
curve is sharper.
Driving Frequency, q
(ii) For large damping p is high and resonance
b=0
curve is flat.
(iii) In absence of any damping force p=0, b is less
amplitude of resonance is infinite.
b is large

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Phase of resonance:
Considering the phase of the forced SHM,
2pq
tanφ = (𝜔2−q2)

At resonance 𝜔2 = 𝑞 2 and tanφ = ∞ That is, φ =π/2

𝑞 𝜋
Thus for = 1, φ = 2
𝜔 φ
𝑞 𝜋
For 𝜔 > 1, φ > 2
𝑞 𝜋
For 𝜔 < 1, φ < 2

The shape of the curve will also depend on the value of b that is the external
frictional forces.
i. For p=0, Curve ABCDE
ii. For p very small , Curve 1
iii. For p very large , Curve 2

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