Physics 42200

Waves & Oscillations

Lecture 14 French, Chapter 6

Spring 2013 Semester

Matthew Jones

Vibrations of Continuous Systems

Equations of motion for masses in the middle:

+
=0
+2
+2

+
=0
Proposed solution:
+

cos

We solved this to determine

+2
and

Vibrations of Continuous Systems

Amplitude of mass

for normal mode :

,

sin

+1

Frequency of normal mode :

=2

sin

Solution for normal modes:

=
General solution:

2
,

cos

= " # sin
%

+1

+1

cos

&

Another Example
Discrete masses on an elastic string with tension ':

Consider transverse displacements:

Vertical force on one mass:

(

'

'

) = ' sin ( ' sin (

=' ( (

'
=
+

+ +

Another Example
+

Equation of motion for mass :

'
+ = ) =
+
+ + +

+ +2
+
+
++
=0
'
=

Normal modes:
+ ,
= , cos
&

Masses on a String

First normal mode

Second normal mode

Continuous Systems
What happens when the number of masses goes to
infinity, while the linear mass density remains constant?
'
+ =
+
+ + +

./01 ./

2.
23 3 3

6 +
-
='
6

6+
6

./ ./51

6+

6
3

2.
23 3

Continuous Systems
6 +
='
6

6+
6

3 3

6+
6

6 +
6 +
='
6
6
6 + -6 +
=
6
'6
The Wave Equation:

1 6 +
6 +
=
6
7 6

7=

'/-

Solutions
When we had
+

masses, the solutions were

= , cos
&

labels the mass along the string

With a continuous system, is replaced by .

Proposed solution to the wave equation for the

continuous string:
+ , = 9( ) cos
Derivatives:
6 +
= 9( ) cos
6
6 + 6 9
=
cos
6
6

Solutions
Substitute into the wave equation:
6 +
1 6 +
=
6
7 6
6 9
=
9( )
6
7
6 9
+
9
=0
6
7
This is the same differential equation as for the
harmonic oscillator.
Solutions are 9
= sin
/7 + < cos
/7

Solutions
9
= sin
/7 + < cos
/7
Boundary conditions at the ends of the string:
9 0 =9 = =0
9
= sin
/7 where =7 =
Solutions can be written:
9

sin

=
Complete solution describing the motion of the
whole string:
+

sin

cos

Properties of the Solutions

+

sin

cos

? =
=

2=

7
9 =
2=

Forced Oscillations

One end of the string is fixed, the other end is forced

with the function @
= < cos .
+ 0, = < cos
+ =, = 0
The wave equation still holds so we expect solutions to
be of the form
+ , = 9( ) cos

Forced Oscillations
This time we cant constrain 9( ) to be zero at both
ends.
Now, let 9
= sin
+A
The constant is just /7.
We need to solve for and A

Boundary condition at = =:
=
=
sin
+ A = 0
+A =C
7
7
=
AD = C
7
Condition at = 0:
< = D sin AD

Forced Oscillations
Amplitude of oscillations:

<
D =
sin C =/7
What does this mean?
The driving force can excite many normal modes of
oscillation
When = C 7/=, the amplitude gets very large

Forced Oscillations
C=2

/<

/<

C=1

9=

/2

= = 5
7 = 10 /F

9=

/2