Vibrations and Waves MP205, Assignment 6 Solutions

* 1. Two identical pendulums are connected by a light coupling spring. Each

pendulum has a length of 0.4 m, and they are at a place where g =
9.8 ms
2
. With the coupling spring connected, one pendulum is clamped
and the period of the other is found to be 1.25 sec exactly.
(a) With neither pendulum clamped, what are the periods of the two
normal modes?
(b) What is the time interval between successive maximum possible am-
plitudes of one pendulum after one pendulum is drawn aside and
released?
(Ill go through this rst question in quite some detail )
(a) Our system is given by:
We can write a general equation for A, by looking at the case where we move
A a distance x
A
, and B a distance x
B
and seeing what forces aect A as a
result.
There are two forces aecting A here:
restoring force due to the pendulum
a =
2
0
x
ma = m
2
0
x
F = m
2
0
x
restoring force due to the spring
F = kx
where x is the change in spring length: x
A
x
B
So the total force on A is:
F
A
= m
2
0
x
A
k(x
A
x
B
)
m
d
2
x
A
dt
2
= m
2
0
x
A
k(x
A
x
B
)
d
2
x
A
dt
2
=
2
0
x
A

k
m
(x
A
x
B
)
setting
c
=
_
k
m
we get:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
Similarly, the equation of motion for B is:
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
2
0
x
B
+
2
c
(x
B
x
A
) = 0
Were told that when B is clamped (x
B
= 0), that the period of A is T
A
= 1.25s.
T
A
=
2

A
=
2
T
A
=
2
1.25
= 5.03

2
A
= (5.03)
2
= 25.27
Looking at this system:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
0) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
x
A
= 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+ (
2
0
+
2
c
)x
A
= 0

A
=
_

2
0
+
2
c
For a simple pendulum of length l, the angular frequency
0
is given by:

0
=
_
g
l

2
0
=
g
l
So in our case:

2
0
=
9.8
0.4
= 24.5
Using this in our expression for
A
gives:

A
=
_

2
0
+
2
c

A
=
_
24.5 +
2
c

2
A
= 24.5 +
2
c
25.27 = 24.5 +
2
c

2
c
= 25.27 24.5 = 0.77

c
= 0.88
To nd the normal modes we let x
A
= C cos(t) and x
B
= Dcos(t) and
obtain an expression for that satises both equations of motion.:
x
A
= C cos(t)
d
2
x
A
dt
2
=
2
C cos(t)
x
B
= Dcos(t)
d
2
x
B
dt
2
=
2
Dcos(t)
Using this in our equations of motion:
First for A:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0

2
C cos(t) +
2
0
C cos(t) +
2
c
(C cos(t) Dcos(t)) = 0

2
C +
2
0
C +
2
c
(C D) = 0
C(
2
+
2
0
+
2
c
)
2
c
D = 0
C
D
=

2
c

2
+
2
0
+
2
c
And for B:
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
2
0
x
B
+
2
c
(x
B
x
A
) = 0

2
Dcos(t) +
2
0
Dcos(t) +
2
c
(Dcos(t) C cos(t)) = 0

2
D +
2
0
D +
2
c
(D C) = 0
D(
2
+
2
0
+
2
c
)
2
c
C = 0
C
D
=

2
+
2
0
+
2
c

2
c
Combining these results:

C
D
=
C
D

2
c

2
+
2
0
+
2
c
=

2
+
2
0
+
2
c

2
c
(
2
c
)
2
= (
2
+
2
0
+
2
c
)
2

2
c
=
2
+
2
0
+
2
c

2
=
2
0
+
2
c

2
c

2
=
2
0
+
2
c
+
2
c
=
2
0
+ 2
2
c

=
_

2
0
+ 2
2
c
=
_
24.5 + 2(0.77) =
_
24.5 + 2(0.77) =

26.04 = 5.1
T

=
2

=
2
5.1
= 1.23s

2
=
2
0
+
2
c

2
c
=
2
0

=
0
=

24.5 = 4.95
T

=
2

=
2
4.95
= 1.27s
Note: normal modes for this system are given by the following two cases:
(i) The case where A and B are pulled apart the same distance: x
A
= x
B
.
(ii) The case where A and B are pulled in the same direction the same distance:
x
A
= x
B
.
Looking at (i), and the equation of motion for A:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
+ x
A
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+ 2
2
c
x
A
= 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+ (
2
0
+ 2
2
c
)x
A
= 0

=
_

2
0
+ 2
2
c
Looking at (ii), and the equation of motion for A:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
A
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
= 0

=
0
(b) Starting with our general equations of motion:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
x
A
+
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
2
0
x
B
+
2
c
(x
B
x
A
) = 0
Adding these equations:
d
2
(x
A
+ x
B
)
dt
2
+
2
0
(x
A
+ x
B
) = 0
and setting q
1
= x
A
+ x
B
we get:
d
2
q
1
dt
2
+
2
0
q
1
= 0
so we can write q
1
as:
q
1
= C cos(
0
t) = C cos(4.95t)
Subtracting these equations:
d
2
(x
A
x
B
)
dt
2
+
2
0
(x
A
x
B
) + 2
2
c
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
(x
A
x
B
)
dt
2
+ (
2
0
+ 2
2
c
)(x
A
x
B
) = 0
using

=
_

2
0
+ 2
2
c
and q
2
= x
A
x
B
we get:
d
2
q
2
dt
2
+
2
q
2
= 0
so we can write q
2
as:
q
2
= Dcos(

t) = Dcos(5.1t)
We can write x
A
and x
B
in terms of q
1
and q
2
.
q
1
= x
A
+ x
B
q
1
= x
A
+ x
B
q
2
= x
A
x
B
q
2
= x
A
+ x
B
q
1
+ q
2
= 2x
A
q
1
q
2
= 2x
B
x
A
=
1
2
(q
1
+ q
2
) x
B
=
1
2
(q
1
q
2
)
This gives us:
x
A
(t) =
1
2
(q
1
+ q
2
)
=
1
2
(C cos(4.95t) + Dcos(5.1t))
x
B
(t) =
1
2
(q
1
q
2
)
=
1
2
(C cos(4.95t) Dcos(5.1t))
These are the general solutions for x
A
and x
B
. To go any further we need
initial conditions.
In this case, were told one pendulum is drawn aside and released. This cor-
responds to one pendulum having displacement 0 at t = 0, and one pendulum
having some displacement (say A
0
) at t = 0.
Lets assume A is drawn aside, so at t = 0:
x
A
(0) = A
0
1
2
(C cos(0) + Dcos(0)) = A
0
C + D = 2A
0
x
B
(0) = 0
1
2
(C cos(0) Dcos(0)) = 0
C D = 0
C = D
Filling this into x
A
(0) we get:
C + C = 2A
0
C = A
0
D = C = A
0
.
This gives us our equations of motion:
x
A
(t) =
1
2
(A
0
cos(4.95t) A
0
cos(5.1t))
=
A
0
2
(cos(4.95t) cos(5.1t))
We can use the trigonometric identity cos Acos B = 2 sin
_
A+B
2
_
sin
_
AB
2
_
= A
0
sin
_
(4.95 + 5.1)
2
t
_
sin
_
5.1 4.95
2
t
_
= A
0
sin (5t) sin (0.08t)
x
B
(t) =
1
2
(A
0
cos(4.95t) + A
0
cos(5.1t))
=
A
0
2
(cos(4.95t) + cos(5.1t))
We can use the trigonometric identity cos A + cos B = 2 cos
_
A+B
2
_
cos
_
AB
2
_
= A
0
cos
_
(4.95 + 5.1)
2
t
_
cos
_
5.1 4.95
2
t
_
= A
0
cos (5t) cos (0.08t)
x
A
(t) = A
0
sin (5t) sin (0.08t)
x
B
(t) = A
0
cos (5t) cos (0.08t)
Were asked to nd the time interval between maximum possible amplitudes
of one pendulum in this system. Looking at x
B
we can note that this is simply
a beat equation.
If we plot x
B
against time we can see its motion:
Where the distance between peaks is the time interval between successive max-
imum possible amplitudes.
If we compare this to the motion of cos
_

0
+

2
t
_
= cos(5t)
and the motion of cos
_

2
t
_
= cos(0.08t)
We can see that the time interval between successive peaks is half the period
of the slow oscillating motion, which is given by:
T =
2
|
0

|
2
=
4
|
0

|
So the time we require is the beat period:
T

=
1
2
T =
2
|
0

|
=
2
|2(0.08)|
= 39.3s
2. Two harmonic oscillators A and B, of mass m and spring constants k
A
and k
B
, respectively, are coupled together by a spring of spring constant
k
C
. Show that the normal frequencies satisfy:
m
2
=
k
A
+ k
B
2
+ k
C

_
k
A
k
B
2
_
2
+ k
2
C
Our equations of motion are:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
k
A
m
x
A
+
k
C
m
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
k
B
m
x
B
+
k
C
m
(x
B
x
A
) = 0
We want to nd such that x
A
= C cos(t) and x
B
= Dcos(t) are solutions to
these equations.

2
C cos(t) +
k
A
m
C cos(t) +
k
C
m
(C cos(t) Dcos(t)) = 0
m
2
C + k
A
C + k
C
(C D) = 0
D
C
=
m
2
+ k
A
+ k
C
k
C

2
Dcos(t) +
k
B
m
Dcos(t) +
k
C
m
(Dcos(t) C cos(t)) = 0
m
2
D + k
B
D + k
C
(D C) = 0
D
C
=
k
C
m
2
+ k
B
+ k
C
Combining these:
m
2
+ k
A
+ k
C
k
C
=
k
C
m
2
+ k
B
+ k
C
(m
2
+ k
A
+ k
C
)(m
2
+ k
B
+ k
C
) = k
2
C
(m
2
)
2
+ k
A
k
B
+ k
A
k
C
+ k
B
k
C
+ k
2
C
m
2
k
A
m
2
k
B
2m
2
k
C
= k
2
C
(m
2
)
2
m
2
(k
A
+ k
B
+ 2k
C
) + (k
A
k
B
+ k
A
k
C
+ k
B
k
C
) = 0
This is just a quadratic equation for m
2
, so we can solve it using the quadratic
formula:
m
2
=
((k
A
+ k
B
+ 2k
C
))
_
(k
A
+ k
B
+ 2k
C
)
2
4(1)(k
A
k
B
+ k
A
k
C
+ k
B
k
C
)
2(1)
=
k
A
+ k
B
+ 2k
C

_
k
2
A
+ k
2
B
+ 4k
2
C
+ 2k
A
k
B
+ 4k
A
k
C
+ 4k
B
k
C
4k
A
k
B
4k
A
k
C
4k
B
k
C
2
=
k
A
+ k
B
2
+ k
C

_
k
2
A
+ k
2
B
2k
A
k
B
+ 4k
2
C
2
=
k
A
+ k
B
2
+ k
C

_
(k
A
k
B
)
2
+ 4k
2
C
4
=
k
A
+ k
B
2
+ k
C

_
k
A
k
B
4
2
_
2
+ k
2
C
As required.
3. Two equal masses on an eectively frictionless horizontal air track are
held between rigid supports by three identical springs, as shown. The
displacements from equilibrium along the line of the springs are described
by coordinates x
A
and x
B
, as shown. If either of the masses is clamped,
the period T for one complete vibration of the other is 3 sec.
*(a) If both masses are free, what are the periods of the two normal
modes of the system?
(a) Our equations of motion are:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
k
m
x
A
+
k
m
(x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
k
m
(2x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
k
m
x
B
+
k
m
(x
B
x
A
) = 0
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
k
m
(2x
B
x
A
) = 0
Setting
0
=
_
k
m
:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
B
x
A
) = 0
Were told that when one mass is clamped, the period of the other is T = 3s.
Lets clamp B, so x
B
= 0. Using this in the equation of motion for A we obtain:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+ 2
2
0
x
A
= 0
=

2
0
We know the period of this system is T = 3s.
T =
2

= 3
=
2
3

2
0
=
2
3

0
=

2
3
To obtain the normal modes we set x
A
= C cos(t) and x
B
= Dcos(t)and
obtain an expression for that satises both equations of motion.
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
A
x
B
) = 0

2
C cos(t) +
2
0
(2C cos(t) Dcos(t)) = 0

2
C +
2
0
(2C D) = 0
C
D
=

2
0
2
2
0

2
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
B
x
A
) = 0

2
Dcos(t) +
2
0
(2Dcos(t) C cos(t)) = 0

2
D +
2
0
(2D C) = 0
C
D
=
2
2
0

2
0
Combining these:

2
0
2
2
0

2
=
2
2
0

2
0
(
2
0
)
2
= (2
2
0

2
)
2

2
0
2
2
0

2
= 2
2
0

2
0

=
0
=

2
3
T

=
2

=
2

2
3
= 3

2s

3
0
=

3
_

2
3
_
=

3
T

=
2

=
2

3
=

6s
Note: It is easy to check that these normal modes coincide with the two fol-
lowing cases:

=
0
Both masses pulled a distance x in the same direction.

3
0
Both masses pulled a distance x in opposite directions.
At t = 0, mass A is at its normal resting position and mass B is pulled
aside a distance of 5 cm. The masses are released from rest at this instant.
(b) Write an equation for the subsequent displacement of each mass as
a function of time.
(c) What length of time (in seconds) characterises the periodic transfer
of the motion from B to A and back again?
(b) Starting with our equations of motion:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
A
x
B
) = 0
d
2
x
B
dt
2
+
2
0
(2x
B
x
A
) = 0
Adding our equations of motion gives:
d
2
q
1
dt
2
+
2
0
q
1
= 0
where q
1
= x
A
+ x
B
.
Subtracting our equations of motion gives:
d
2
q
2
dt
2
+ 3
2
0
q
2
= 0
where q
2
= x
A
x
B
.
SO we can write q
1
= C cos(
0
t) and q
2
= Dcos(

3
0
t). As in question 1., we
can thus write x
A
and x
B
:
x
A
(t) =
1
2
_
C cos(
0
t) + Dcos(

3
0
t)
_
x
B
(t) =
1
2
_
C cos(
0
t) Dcos(

3
0
t)
_
Were told that t = 0, mass A is at its normal resting position and mass B is
pulled aside a distance of 5 cm.
x
A
(0) = 0, x
B
(0) = 0.05
x
A
(0) =
1
2
(C + D) = 0
C = D
x
B
(0) =
1
2
(C D) = 0.05
C D = 0.05
2C = 0.05
C = 0.025
D = 0.025
Which gives us:
x
A
(t) =
0.025
2
_
cos(
0
t) cos(

3
0
t)
_
= 0.025 sin
_

0
+

3
0
2
_
sin
_

3
0
2
_
= 0.025 sin
_
(1 +

3)
0
2
_
sin
_
(1

3)
0
2
_
x
B
(t) =
0.025
2
_
cos(
0
t) + cos(

3
0
t)
_
= 0.025 cos
_

0
+

3
0
2
_
cos
_

3
0
2
_
= 0.025 cos
_
(1 +

3)
0
2
_
cos
_
(1

3)
0
2
_
where:
0
=

2
3
(c) Again, as in 1., this is just the beat period:
T =
2
|(1

3)
0
|
=
2
|(1

3)

2
3
|
=
3

2
(

3 1)
= 5.8s
4. Two objects, A and B, each of mass m, are connected by springs as shown.
The coupling spring has a spring constant k
c
, and the other two springs
have spring constant k
0
. If B is clamped, A vibrates at a frequency
A
of
1.81 sec
1
. The frequency
1
of the lower normal mode is 1.14 sec
1
.
(a) Briey explain why the equations of motion of A and B are given by:
m
d
2
x
A
dt
2
= k
0
x
A
k
c
(x
A
x
B
)
m
d
2
x
B
dt
2
= k
0
x
B
k
c
(x
B
x
A
)
(b) Putting
0
=
_
k
0
/m, show that the angular frequencies
1
and
2
of
the normal modes are given by

1
=
0
,
2
= [
2
0
+ (2k
c
/m)]
1/2
,
and that the angular frequency of A when B is clamped (x
B
= 0
always) is given by

A
= [
2
0
+ (k
c
/m)]
1/2
.
(c) Using the numerical data above, calculate the expected frequency
(
2
) of the higher normal mode. (The observed value was 2.27 sec
1
).
(d) From the same data calculate the ratio k
c
/k
0
of the two spring con-
stants.
(a) Looking at our system:
Looking at A: There are two forces aecting A here:
restoring force due to the spring on its left
F = k
0
x
A
where x
A
is the change in spring length, and k
0
is the spring constant.
restoring force due to the spring on its right
F = k
C
(x
A
x
B
)
where x
A
x
B
is the change in spring length, and k
C
is the spring constant.
So, the total force on A is (denoting the total force on A by F
A
):
F
A
= k
0
x
A
k
C
(x
A
x
B
)
using F = ma
ma
A
= k
0
x
A
k
C
(x
A
x
B
)
and a =
d
2
x
dt
2
m
d
2
x
A
dt
2
= k
0
x
A
k
C
(x
A
x
B
)
As this system is totally symmetric in A and B we can write the equation of
motion for B by interchanging A and B in As equation of motion:
m
d
2
x
B
dt
2
= k
0
x
B
k
C
(x
B
x
A
)
(b) Setting
0
=
_
k
0
m
(after dividing across by m):
d
2
x
A
dt
2
=
2
0
x
A

k
C
m
(x
A
x
B
)
d
2
x
B
dt
2
=
2
0
x
B

k
C
m
(x
B
x
A
)
To obtain the normal modes we set x
A
= C cos(t) and x
B
= Dcos(t) and
obtain an expression for that satises both equations of motion.

2
C cos(t) =
2
0
C cos(t)
k
C
m
(C cos(t) Dcos(t))

2
C =
2
0
C
k
C
m
(C D)
C
D
=
k
C
m

2
0
+
k
C
m

2

2
Dcos(t) =
2
0
Dcos(t)
k
C
m
(Dcos(t) C cos(t))

2
D =
2
0
D
k
C
m
(D C)
C
D
=

2
0
+
k
C
m

2
k
C
m
Combining these:
k
C
m

2
0
+
k
C
m

2
=

2
+
k
C
m

2
0
k
C
m
(
k
C
m
)
2
= (
2
0
+
k
C
m

2
)
2

k
C
m
=
2
0
+
k
C
m

2

2
=
2
0
+
k
C
m

k
C
m

1
=
0

2
=
_

2
0
+
2k
C
m
Note: It is easy to check that these normal modes coincide with the two fol-
lowing cases:

=
0
Both masses pulled a distance x in the same direction.

=
_

2
0
+
2k
C
m
Both masses pulled a distance x in opposite directions.
When B is clamped, x
B
= 0, using this in the equation of motion for A:
d
2
x
A
dt
2
=
2
0
x
A

k
C
m
(x
A
x
B
)
d
2
x
A
dt
2
=
2
0
x
A

k
C
m
x
A
d
2
x
A
dt
2
= (
2
0
+
k
C
m
)x
A

A
=
_

2
0
+
k
C
m
(c) Were told that
A
= 1.81s
1
and
1
= 1.14s
1
:
=
1
T
=

2
= 2

1
= 2
1
= 2(1.14) = 7.16

1
=
0
= 7.16

A
= 2
A
= 2(1.81) = 11.37

A
=
_

2
0
+
k
C
m
= 11.37

2
0
+
k
C
m
= 129.34
(7.16)
2
+
k
C
m
= 129.34
k
m
= 129.34 51.27 = 78.07
Now obtaining a numerical value for
2
is simple:

2
=
_

2
0
+
2k
C
m
=
_
(7.16)
2
+ 2(78.07) =

207.41 = 14.4
Using this in =

2
gives us:

2
=

2
2
=
14.4
2
= 2.29s
1
(d) We want the ratio
k
C
k
0
:
k
C
k
0
=
k
C
m
k
0
m
=
k
C
m

2
0
=
78.07
51.27
= 1.52