8.

03 Fall 2004
Problem Set 1 Solutions
Solution 1.1: Manipulation of complex vectors
Part (a)
(4

5j)3 = 43 3 42 5j + 3 4 ( 5j)2 ( 5j)3

= 64 + 5 5j 48 5j 60

= 4 43 5j

Magnitude
|(4

5)3 | =

42 + (43 5)2 = 16 + 9245 = 9261 = 96.23

Direction


arctan

(1)


43 5
= 87.62o
4

We show below a graphical representation. Raising the complex vector Z to the power 3 means that the new angle
is 3 times larger than that of Z, and the length of the new vector is the length |Z|3 . The length of the vector Z 3 is
not to scale (|Z|3 96).

Imaginary Axis

= 29.21o
3= 87.62o

0.5
Z= 4 5 j

Magn= 4.583

5
3

0.5

Z = 4 43j*5

Magn= (4.583)3 96.23

10
2

Real Axis

FIG. 1: 1.1(a) Vector Rotation

Part (b)

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Aej(t+/2)
A(cos(t + /2) + j sin(t + /2))
A(cos(t + /2) + j sin(t + /2)) 4 5j
=
=

4 + 5j
4 + 5j
4 + 5j
4 5j
A[4 cos(t + /2) + 5 sin(t + /2) + j[4 sin(t + /2) 5 cos(t + /2)]]
=
42 + 52
Real Part
A
[4 cos(t + /2) + 5 sin(t + /2)]
41

(2)

A
[(4 sin(t + /2) 5 cos(t + /2)]
41

(3)

Imaginary Part
j
Part (c)
Remember ej = cos() + j sin()
Z1 = j j = [ej(/22n) ]j = ej(/22n)j = ej

(/22n)

= e(/22n)
 0.208 , 3.88 104 , 1.11 102 ... (n = 0, 1...)

(4)

Note: All values are real!

Z2 = j 8.03 = [ej(/22n) ]8.03 = ej([8.03(/22n)]





= cos 8.03 ( 2n) + j sin 8.03 ( 2n)

2
2
= 0.999 + 0.047j , 0.9724 + 0.233j , 0.990 0.141j ... (n = 0, 1...)

Solution 1.2: SHM of y as a function of x

y
dy
dx
d2 y
dx2
d2 y
dx2

= A cos(kx) + B sin(kx)
= Ak sin(kx) + Bk cos(kx)
= Ak 2 cos(kx) Bk 2 sin(kx) = k 2 [A cos(kx) + B sin(kx)]
= k 2 y

Hence the given dierential equation has y = A cos(kx) + B sin(kx) as its solution.
Now to express
the equation in the desired
form, we divide and multiply it by A2 + B 2 . When we substitute

cos() = A/ A2 + B 2 and sin() = B/ A2 + B 2 , the equation takes the desired form:

A cos(kx) + B sin(kx)  2

A + B2
A2 + B 2

=
A2 + B 2 [cos() cos(kx) sin() sin(kx)]

=
A2 + B 2 cos(kx + )

y =

y =

A2 + B 2 cos(kx + ) =


A2 + B 2 Re[ej(kx+) ] = Re[( A2 + B 2 ej )ejkx ]

where
C=

A2 + B 2

= tan1 (

B
)
A

(5)

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Solution 1.3: Oscillating springs

Part (a)
The mass at the end of the spring oscillates with an amplitude of 5 cm and at a frequency of 1 Hz, hence the values
of A and are:
A = 5 cm
= 2f = 2 1 = 2 rad/s
We are given that at time t = 0 the mass is at the position x = 0. Using this and substituting the values from
above in the equation x = A cos(t + ) we get
0 = 5 cos()

cos() = 0

(6)

Hence the possible equations of motion for the mass as a function of time are
x = 5 cos(2t +

) ; 5 cos(2t ) cm
2
2

(7)

where the values of the required constants are A = 5 cm, = 2 rad/s, and = 2 .
Part (b)

x = A cos(t + )
dx/dt = A sin(t + )
d2 x/dt2 = A 2 cos(t + ) = 2 x

Substituting values for A, , and from part (a); and putting t =

8
3

sec, we get

16
x = 5 cos[(2 ) ] = 5 cos(
)
3
2
3
2
29
11
5
35
), 5 cos(
) = 5 cos(
), 5 cos( )
= 5 cos(
6
6
6
6

5 3
cm = 4.330 cm
=
2

(8)

dx
8

16
= 5 2 sin[(2 ) ] = 10 sin(
)
dt
3
2
3
2
= 5 cm/s = 15.708 cm/s

(9)

d2 x
8
16
)
= 5 (2)2 cos[(2 ) ] = 20 2 cos(
2
dt
3
2
3
2
2
= 10 3 cm/s2 = 170.95 cm/s2

(10)

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Solution 1.4: Floating Cylinder

Part (a)
The diameter of the oating cylinder is d and it has l of its length submerged in water. The volume of water
displaced by the submerged part of the cylinder in equilibrium condition is d2 l/4. Let the density of water be w
and the density of cylinder be cyl . Hence the mass of the cylinder is:

Mcyl = w Vdisplaced = w

d2 l
d2 L
= cyl
4
4

When the cylinder is submerged by an additional length x from its equilibrium position, the restoring force acting
on it is as follows
Frestoring =

w gd2
x
4

Mcyl x
=

0 = x
+

2 = w

w gd2
x
4

w gd2 x
4Mcyl

gd2
g
=
4Mcyl
l


g
x(t) = A cos(t + ) = A cos(
t + )
l
Hence the angular frequency of the oscillations is =

(11)

(12)

g/l rad/s and the frequency in cycles per second is

1
2

g
l

Hz

(13)

Part (b)
The equation of motion is of the form x(t) = B cos(t + ). We assume up to be the positive and down to be the
negative direction. At t = 0, x = B thus

g
x(0) = B = B cos(
0 + )
l
= cos1 (1) =
The velocity of the mass is



g
g
g
g
sin(
t + ) = B
sin(
t)
x(t)

= B
l
l
l
l

The plot will look as shown in Fig. 2. Amplitude of velocity is Vmax = B g/l.


(14)

Solution 1.5: A damped oscillating spring

Mass of the object is m = 0.2 kg and the spring constant of the suspending spring is k = 80 N/m. The resistive force providing the damping force has the value of bv, where v is velocity in m/s.
Part (a)
Let the oscillations of the spring be along the x axis. The spring force and damping force acting on the mass are:
Frestoring = kx
Fdamping = bv = bx

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

5
Graph of Velocity vs. Time from t=0 to t=T

Velocity in units of V

max=

B(g/l)0.5

1
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Time (t/T)

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

FIG. 2: 1.4(b) Graph of velocity versus time

Newtons 2nd law:

m
x = Fnet = Frestoring + Fdamping = kx bx
x
=

k
b
x x
m
m

Hence the dierential equation describing the motion of the mass is:
x
+

k
b
x + x = 0
m
m

(15)

or
d2 x
dx
+ o2 x = 0
+
2
dt
dt

(16)

where
=

b
m

02 =

k
m

Part (b)
We are given that the damped frequency is = 0.9950 . Now using the Eq. 3-34 from French, the value of the
damped frequency in terms of the undamped frequency and the damping parameter is:

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

2 = 02

(0.9950 )2 = 0.990 2 = 02

2
4
2
4

b2
k
2
=
= 0.0102 = 0.01
4
4m2
m

b =

0.04km = 0.2 km

substituting the values given in the problem, we nd b = 0.8 Ns/m =0.8 kg/s .
Part (c)

0 =

k
= 20 rad/s
m

b
= 4 rad/s
m

Q =

0
=5

(17)

Four complete cycles imply that the time t = 8/. Eq. 3-35 (French) gives us the envelope for the damped
oscillatory motion as a function of time
t
4 4
) = A0 exp(
)
2
0.995 20
= A0 exp(0.804)

A(t) = A0 exp(

A(t)
= exp(0.804) = 0.08
A0

(18)

The factor by which the amplitude is reduced after four complete cycles is 0.08.
Part (d)
The equation dening the decay of energy of the system is:
E(t) = E0 et
substituting values from above, we get
E(t)
= exp(t) = exp(1.608) = 0.0064
E0

(19)

The factor by which the energy is reduced after four complete cycles is 6.4 103 ; this is the square of the ratio of
the amplitudes.

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Alpha

M/2

M/2

FIG. 3: 1.8 Simple Two Mass Pendulum

Solution 1.6: A physical pendulum

Part (a)
To solve this problem, we rst consider the simpler case of a two mass rigid pendulum, both of whose masses
are equidistant from the pivot point at P. All three points lie on a circle of diamater D and subtend an angle at
the pivot, as shown in Fig. 3. In this system let the distance of each mass from the pivot point be l. The moment
of inertia of the two masses together is Ip = M l2 /2 + M l2 /2 = M l2 . At equilibrium the position of each mass is
l cos( 12 ) = l2 /D below P. The gravitational potential energy of the system, after being displaced over a small angle
l2 2
is U M g D
2
E

1
1 M l2 2
M l2 2 + g

2
2 D

dE
l2
= M l2 + M g = 0
dt
D
g
0 = +
D


D
T = 2
g
Hence the period is independent of the mass M and angle . It only depends on the diameter D of the circle.
So now considering the circular arc system whose period we have to calculate, we see that we can see

it as a
collection of many such two-mass pendulums. Since the period of all those pendulums is the same T = 2 D
g , the
period of the arc is also



T = 2

D
= 2
g

2R
g

(20)

Part (b)
The period of the oscillations is independent of the length of the arc and the 120o angle. Hence when we complete
the arc to form the hoop, the period of the hoop is same as the period of the small angle oscillations of the arc.

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Solution 1.7: Damped oscillator and initial conditions

Part (a)
The solution for the case of critical damping (/2 = 0 ) is of the form s = (A + Bt)et/2 . We know that
s(t = 0) = 0 and s(t
= 0) = v0 . So
s(0) = Ae0 = 0

A = 0
s(0)

= Bet/2

(A + Bt)et/2 = A + B = v0
2
2

B = v0

Hence the time evolution of the displacement of the pen is

s(t) = v0 tet/2 = v0 te0 t

(21)

s(t) does not change sign before it settles to its equilibrium position as s = 0.
A plot of the evolution of a critically damped system is shown in Fig. 4.

s(t) as function of time t

v0t=1.5t
2.5

s(t)

1.5

t/2

s(t)=1.5te
0.5

0.5

1.5

time t

2.5

FIG. 4: 1.9(a) Plot of s(t) in the critically damped system

Part (b)
The solution describing the evolution of an overdamped system is
s = A1 e(/2+)t + A2 e(/2)t

8.03 Problem Set 1 Solutions

Now
s(0) = A1 + A2 = s0

+ )e(/2+)t A2 ( )e(/2)t
2
2

0 = A1 ( + ) A2 ( )
2
2

0 = (A2 s0 )( + ) A2 ( )
2
2

2A2 = s0 ( + )
2
1

A2 = s0 ( + )
2 2
1

A1 = s0 [1
( + )]
2 2
s(0)

= A1 (

Equation of motion is
s = s0 [1

1
1
( + )]e(/2+)t + s0 ( + )e(/2)t
2 2
2 2

where


=

(22)

2
02
4

Part (c)
Plot of s(t) for the given values is shown in Fig. 5
1.9(c) Plot of s(t) for t=0 to t=10
1

0.9

0.8

0.7

s(t)

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

time t

FIG. 5: 1.9(c) Plot of s(t) in the overdamped system

10