Chapter13: Vibrations and waves

13.1 Hook’s Law and Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

13.2 Elastic Potential Energy
13.4 Position As Function of Time
13.5 Simple Pendulum Motion
Hook’s Law
• Hook’s law measures the amount of needed force to restore the
spring’s equilibrium state
𝐹𝑠 = −𝑘𝑥
Where 𝐹𝑠 : Spring restoring force, 𝑘: Spring constant, 𝑥= Displacement
from equilibrium position.
• The unit is Newton N
• Negative sign here means that the direction of the force 𝐹𝑠 is
opposite to the direction of the displacement 𝑥
• Equilibrium state is when the spring not stretched nor compressed
(𝑥= Zero)
Spring-Object System

• When the spring is displaced toward the right (𝑥 is

positive), then the spring resorting force 𝐹𝑠is toward the
left (𝐹𝑠is negative)

• When the spring is in equilibrium state (Not stretched nor

compressed 𝑥=zero ) the spring restoring force is zero

• When the spring is displaced toward the left (𝑥 is

negative), then the spring resorting force 𝐹𝑠is toward the
right (𝐹𝑠is positive)
Simple Harmonic Motion
• Simple Harmonic Motion (Periodic motion) is when the object goes back and forth; moving
away from the starting position then returning to that same position at fixed time.
• Spring and Pendulum are examples of the simple harmonic motion.
• As a consequence of the SMH, we have the velocity of the object as a function of position:

Where 𝑣 : Velocity, 𝑚 : Mass of the object, 𝐴 : Amplitude (Maximum Displacement), 𝑥 :

Displacement from equilibrium position, 𝑘 : Spring constant
• The velocity is maximized when the displacement 𝑥 equals Zero, so that:
Elastic Potential Energy
• The energy stored in the spring when the
spring is stretched or compressed is:
1 2
𝑃𝐸𝑠 = 𝑘𝑥
2
Where 𝑃𝐸𝑠 : Elastic potential energy, 𝑘: Spring
constant, 𝑥:Displacement from equilibrium
position.
• The unit is Joule J
• Elastic potential energy 𝑃𝐸𝑠 is maximized
when 𝑥= amplitude 𝐴 (Maximum
Displacement)
Equilibrium Stretched
• Elastic potential energy 𝑃𝐸𝑠 is Zero when the Compressed
spring is in equilibrium state (Not stretched
nor compressed) 𝑥= zero
Elastic Potential Energy
• The conservation of mechanical energy for a system of object-spring is:
(𝑃𝐸𝑠 +𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝐾𝐸)𝑖 = (𝑃𝐸𝑠 +𝑃𝐸𝑔 + 𝐾𝐸)𝑓

1 2 1 1 2 1
( 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ + 𝑚𝑣 )𝑖 = ( 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑚𝑔ℎ + 𝑚𝑣 2 )𝑓
2
2 2 2 2

Considerations:
• Likewise with maximum height 𝑣 = zero, here with maximum compression or maximum
stretch(𝑥 =A) the velocity 𝑣 = zero.
• The action here normally is a collision between the object and the spring, so before the
collision 𝑥 = zero because the spring is relaxed (Equilibrium state).
• If the object and the spring are at the same height level then the conservation of mechanical
energy is modified to be the following:
1 2 1 1 2 1
( 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑚𝑣 )𝑖 = ( 𝑘𝑥 + 𝑚𝑣 2 )𝑓
2
2 2 2 2
Position As a Function of Time
• As a result of the simple harmonic motion, the position 𝑥 can be
given as a function of time:
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡
𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 Unit: 𝑟𝑎𝑑Τ𝑠
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜋𝑓𝑡
Where 𝑥: Position, 𝐴: Amplitude, 𝑡: time, 𝑓:Frequency (Number of
Completed waves or cycles), 𝜔= Angular Frequency
• The unit of frequency 𝑓 is 𝑠 −1
• The relationship between period 𝑇 (the time foe completing one
wave or one cycle) and the frequency is:
1
𝑇=
𝑓
Only Part A !
Simple Pendulum Motion
• Pendulum motion is another example of simple harmonic
motion.
• The period 𝑇 for completing one cycle of motion can be
found with using the following equation:
𝐿

Where 𝑇: Period, 𝐿: Length of the string, 𝑔: gravitational

acceleration
• Another equation for finding period 𝑇:
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
𝑇=
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
• The gradational acceleration 𝑔 can be obtained from the
first equation of the period:
4𝜋 2𝐿
𝑔= 2
𝑇