Simple Harmonic Motion

DEFINITION
"Typ
e of
vibr
ator
y
moti
on
in
whic
h
acce
lerat
ion
of
body
is
dire
ctly
prop
ortio
nal
its
displ
ace
men
t
and
the
acce
lerat
ion
is
alwa
ys
dire
cted
tow
ards
the
equil
ibriu
m
(me
an)
posi
tion
is
calle
d
Sim
ple
Har
mon
ic

Moti
on. "
acce
lerat
ion
displ
ace
men
t
a x
Negative sign indicates that acceleration and displacement
are opposite in direction.
BASIC CONDITIONS TO
EXECUTE SHM
Basic conditions to execute simple harmonic motion are as
under:
Ther
e
must
be
an
elasti
c
resto
ring
force
actin
g on
the
syste
m.
The
syste
m
must
have
inerti
a.
The
accel
erati
on of
the
syste
m
shoul
d be
direc
tly

prop
ortio
nal
to its
displ
acem
ent
and
is
alwa
ys
d
irect
ed to
mea
n
positi
on
i.e. a
-x
EXAMPLES OF SHM
M
otion
of a
body
attac
hed
to
the
end
of an
elasti
c
sprin
g.

M
otion
of
the
bob
os a
simpl
e
pend
ulum
if it
is
given
small
displ
acem
ent.

M
otion
of an
elasti
c
strip.

M
otion
of of
the
pron
gs of
a
tunin
g
fork.

M
otion
of
the
wire
of a
guita
r or
violin

CHARACTERISTICS OF
SHM
The motion must be vibratory.
The motion should be a periodic motion.

The restoring force should be directly proportional to

the displacement of the body from its mean
position.

Define the following terms:

PERIODIC MOTION
A motion that repeats itself in equal intervals of time is called Periodic Motion.
VIBRATORY MOTION
If a particle in periodic motion moves back and forth (To and Fro) over the same path,
then this type
of motion is called Vibratory or Oscillatory Motion.
VIBRATION
A complete round trip of a vibrating body is called a Vibration.
or
The motion of a vibrating body from one extreme point to the other
extreme point and back to the first extreme point is called VIBRATION.
For Example the motion of the bob of Simple Pendulum from A to B & back from B to A
via point "O"
is called one Vibration.

For latest information , free computer courses and high impact notes visit :
www.citycollegiate.com
TIME PERIOD
Time required to complete one vibration is called Time Period of vibrating body. It is
denoted by "T".
FREQUENCY
Number of vibrations executed by a vibrating body in one second is called its frequency.
It is denoted by "f".
Frequency is reciprocal of time period f = 1/T
Unit of frequency : Hertz
Other units : cycle/sec or vibration/sec.
D
I
S
P
L
A
C
E
M

E
N
T
A
M
P
L
I
T
U
D
E

Displacement of the vibrating body at any instant in its distance from the mean
position at that instant either right or left side. Here it is denoted by "x".

Maximum displacement of a vibrating body on either side of its

equilibrium position is called amplitude of vibration. It is denoted by
.
Show that the motion of the bob of a simple pendulum SHM if it is given small displacement
SIMPLE PENDULUM
simple pendulum consists of a heavy mass particle suspended by a light, flexible and
in-extensible string.

MOTION OF THE BOB OF

SIMPLE PENDULUM
The motion of the bob of simple pendulum simple harmonic motion if it is given small
displacement. In order to prove this fact consider a simple pendulum having a bob of
mass 'm' and the length of pendulum is 'l'. Assuming that the mass of the string os
pendulum is negligible. When the pendulum is at rest at position 'A', the only force
acting is its weight and tension in the string. When it is displaced from its mean
position to another new position say 'B' and released, it vibrates to and fro around its
mean position.
Suppose that at this instant the bob is at point 'B' as shown below :

FORCES ACTING ON THE

BOB
1. Weight of the bob (W) acting vertically downward.
2. Tension in the string (T) acting along the string.
The weight of the bob can be resolved into two rectangular components:
a. Wcos along the string.
b. Wsin perpendicular to string.
Since there is no motion along the string, therefore, the component Wcos must
balance tension (T)
i.e.
Wcos = T
This shows that only Wsin is the net force which is responsible for the acceleration in
the bob of pendulum.
According to Newton's second law of motion Wsin will be equal to m x a
i.e.
Wsin =
ma
Since Wsinis towards the mean position, therefore, it must have a negative sign.
i.e.
m a = - Wsin
But W = mg
ma=mgsin
a=
- gsin
In our assumption is very small because displacement
is small, in this condition we can take sin =
Hence
a=g ----------- (1)
If x be the linear displacement of the bob from its mean
position, then from figure, the length of arc AB is nearly
equal to x
From elementary geometry we know
that:

Where s= x, r = l
Putting the value of in equation (1)

TIME PERIOD

As the acceleration of the bob of simple pendulum is

directly proportional to displacement and is directed
towards the mean position, therefore the motion of the bob
is simple harmonic when it is given a small displacement.
TIME PERIOD

Time required to complete one vibration is called time

period.
When the bob of the pendulum completes one vibration it
travels 360o or 2p
i.e. q = 2p
Show that the motion of a mass attached to the
end of a spring is SHM

Consider a mass "m" attached to the end of an elastic

spring. The other end of the spring is fixed
at the a firm support as shown in figure "a". The
whole system is placed on a smooth horizontal surface.
If we displace the mass 'm' from its mean position 'O'
to point "a" by applying an external force, it is
displaced by '+x' to its right, there will be elastic
restring force on the mass equal to F in the left side
which is applied by the spring.

According to "Hook's Law

F = - Kx ---- (1)

Negative sign indicates that the elastic restoring force

is opposite to the displacement.
Where K= Spring Constant

If we release mass 'm' at point 'a', it moves forward to

' O'. At point ' O' it will not stop but moves forward
towards point "b" due to inertia and covers the same
displacement -x. At point 'b' once again elastic
restoring force 'F' acts upon it but now in the right side.
In this way it continues its motion
from a to b and then b to a.

According to Newton's 2nd law of motion, force 'F'

produces acceleration 'a' in the body which is given by
F = ma ---- (2)
Comparing equation (1) & (2)
ma = -kx

Here k/m is constant term, therefore ,

a = - (Constant)x
or

a -x
This relation indicates that the acceleration of body
attached to the end elastic spring is directly
proportional to its displacement. Therefore its motion
is Simple Harmonic Motion.

DOPPLER'S EFFECT

INTRODUCTION

When a source of sound or a listener, or both are in

motion relative to each other, the frequency and hence
the pitch of sound, as heard by the listener is not the
same as when the listener and source of sound are at
rest. This phenomenon is referred to as 'The Doppler's
effect'.

DEFINITION

The apparent change in the pitch or frequency of sound

due to relative motion of source of sound and the
listener is called 'DOPPLER'S EFFECT'.

EXPLANATION

When a sounding body passes near a stationary person,

a considerable change in the pitch of sound is detected.
When the body is approaching, the pitch of the sound
increases where as the pitch of sound decreases when
the sounding body is moving away. A similar change in
pitch also occurs when a moving listener passes a
stationary source of sound.
All these apparent changes in the pitch of sound are
referred to as 'DOPPLER'S EFFECT'.

DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
WHEN THE LISTENER IS MOVING AND THE
SOURCE IS AT REST

WHEN THE LISTENER IS MOVING TOWARDS THE

SOURCE OF SOUND IS AT REST

Suppose the listener is moving towards a stationary

source of sound. The speed of the listener is VO. Let the

source emits sound waves of frequency
length equal to
We know that:

and wave

V/ --------(1)

Several wave crests separated by equal distance are

spread in all directions. The waves approaching the
moving listener have a speed of propagation relative
motion to the listener will be (V + VO).
Thus the frequency as heard by the listener is

'

' = Relative velocity of sound/Wave length

This expression shows that when a listener moves

towards a stationary source of sound, he detects larger
frequency and hence higher pitch as compared to
original.
WHEN THE LISTENER IS MOVING AND THE
SOURCE IS AT REST

Previous topic
www.citycollegiate.com
WHEN THE LISTENER IS MOVING AWAY
FROM THE STATIONARY SOURCE OF SOUND

Suppose the listener is moving away from a stationary

source of sound. The speed of the listener is VO. Let the

source emits sound waves of frequency

length equal to

and wave

Several wave crests separated by equal distance are

spread in all directions. The waves approaching the
moving listener have a speed of propagation relative
motion to the listener will be (V - VO).
Thus the frequency as heard by the listener is

'

This expression shows that when a listener moves away

from a stationary source of sound, he detects lower
frequency and hence low pitch as compared to original.

WHEN THE SOURCE IS MOVING AND THE

LISTENER IS AT REST

WHEN THE SOURCE IS MOVING TOWARDS

THE STATIONARY LISTENER

Consider a source of sound moving with a velocity of Vs

. The wave crest detected by the

stationary listener are close together because the source
is moving in the direction of outgoing waves resulting in
the shortening of wave length i.e. ' measured by the
and sounding a tone of frequency

listener is shorter than true wave length

Thus the wave length arriving at the listener at rest is:

'
Putting the value of

i.e. = V/

www.citycollegiate.com

This expression indicates that the frequency of sound as

heard by the listener is increased and he will detect a
higher pitch of sound.

WHEN THE SOURCE IS MOVING AND THE

LISTENER IS AT REST

Previous Topic

www.citycollegiate.com

WHEN THE SOURCE IS MOVING AWAY FROM

THE STATIONARY LISTENER

Consider a source of sound moving with a velocity of Vs

. The wave crest detected by the

stationary listener are wide spread because the source is
moving in the direction of incoming waves resulting in
the increase of wave length i.e. ' measured by the
and sounding a tone of frequency

listener is longer than true wave length

Thus the wave length arriving at the listener at rest is:

'

Putting the value of

i.e. = V/

www.citycollegiate.com
This expression indicates that the frequency of sound as
heard by the listener is decreased and he will detect a
lower pitch of sound.
WHEN BOTH SOURCE AND THE LISTENER ARE
MOVING

WHEN BOTH SOURCE AND THE LISTENER ARE

MOVING TOWARDS EACH OTHER

WHEN BOTH SOURCE AND THE LISTENER ARE

MOVING AWAY FROM EACH OTHER

Analysis of standing or stationary waves

QUESTION

Two sinusoidal waves with the same amplitude ,

frequency and wavelength are traveling in
opposite direction. Find Their resultant
displacement.
ANSWER

Consider two sinusoidal waves with the same

amplitude,frequency and wavelength which are traveling
in the opposite direction.

Let the amplitude of the first wave which is traveling to

the right is Y1

Y1 = A Sin[kx-t]
O

Let the amplitude of the second wave which is traveling

to the left is Y2

Y2 = A Sinkx+t
O

The resultant wave function Y is given by:

Y = Y1 + Y2
Putting the values of Y1 and Y2

Y =A Sin[kx-t] + AOSinkx+t
O

Y =A {Sin[kx-t] + Sinkx+t
O

Using the relation:

Y =A {2Sin (kx-t+kx+t) Coskxt-kx-t

O

Y =2A Sin kx Cos t

O

When K = 2/andf
This is the expression which represents the wave
function for a stationary wave.
Where = angular velocity of stationary wave.
2AO Sin kx = Amplitude of stationary wave.
POINTS OF MAXIMUM AMPLITUDE

Points of maximum amplitude are called

"ANTINODES".
For maximum amplitude of stationary wave , Sin kx =
+-1
Maximum amplitude of stationary wave = 2AO
Thus
Kx = /2, 3/2 , 5/2............
Since K = 2/
Similarly x = /4, 3/4 , 5/4............ n/4
when n = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc.

POINTS OF MINIMUM AMPLITUDE

Points of minimum amplitude or zero amplitude

are called "NODES".
Minimum amplitude of stationary wave will be at point
where Sin kx = 0 or when
Kx = , 2 , 3............ n
OR
x = /2, , /2 , ............ n/2
when n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ........ etc.
Distance between two consecutive nodes = /2
Distance between two consecutive antinodes= /2
Distance between a node and next antinode = /4