Composition of two simple harmonic vibrations of same frequency but different phase and

amplitude:
Let a particle in a medium be simultaneously acted upon by two simple harmonic vibrations of
same frequency but different phase and amplitude given by the following equations
𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑎𝑎1 sin(𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 + 𝛼𝛼1 ) ……………………..(1)
𝑦𝑦2 = 𝑎𝑎2 sin(𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 + 𝛼𝛼2 )……………………..(2)

Where y1 & y2 are the displacements of the particles due to the individual vibrations of
amplitudes a1 & a2 and angles of epochs α1 & α2, respectively. The two vibrations have the same
angular frequency ω. The resultant displacement y of the particle will be given by vector sum of
the individual displacements so that
y = y1 + y2
= 𝑎𝑎1 sin(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝛼𝛼1 ) + 𝑎𝑎2 sin(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝛼𝛼2 )
= 𝑎𝑎1 (sin 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼1 + cos 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼1 ) + 𝑎𝑎2 (sin 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼2 + cos 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼2 )
∴ 𝑦𝑦 = (𝑎𝑎1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑎𝑎2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼2 )𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + (𝑎𝑎1 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑎𝑎2 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼2 )𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 ………….(3)
The amplitudes a1 & a2 and the angles of epoch α1 & α2 of the two vibrations are constant.
Hence putting 𝑎𝑎1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑎𝑎2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼2 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝜑𝜑
and 𝑎𝑎1 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑎𝑎2 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼2 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝜑𝜑
The resultant amplitude can be written as
𝑦𝑦 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑𝜑 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
∴ 𝑦𝑦 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜑𝜑) ……………….(4)
Thus the equation of the resultant vibration as given by eq. (4) is simple harmonic and is very
much similar to either eq. (1) or eq. (2). The amplitude of the resultant vibration is A while the
epoch angle is φ, the time period of the resultant vibration remaining same as the original
vibrations. The values of A and φ in eq. (4) can be determined as follows:
𝐴𝐴2 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑛𝑛2 𝜑𝜑 + 𝐴𝐴2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝜑𝜑
= 𝑎𝑎12 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2 𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑎𝑎22 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2 𝛼𝛼2 + 2𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎2 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼1 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼2 + 𝑎𝑎12 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑎𝑎22 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝛼𝛼2
+ 2𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼2
𝐴𝐴2 (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑛𝑛2 𝜑𝜑 + 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝜑𝜑)
= 𝑎𝑎12 (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2 𝛼𝛼1 + 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝛼𝛼1 ) + 𝑎𝑎22 (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠2 𝛼𝛼2 + 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 2 𝛼𝛼2 ) + 2𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎2 (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼1 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛼𝛼2
+ 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝛼𝛼2 )
𝐴𝐴2 = 𝑎𝑎12 + 𝑎𝑎22 + 2𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎2 cos⁡
(𝛼𝛼1 − 𝛼𝛼2 ) ………………….(5)
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝜑𝜑 𝑎𝑎 1 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝛼𝛼 1 + 𝑎𝑎 2 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝛼𝛼 2
and 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = =
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝜑𝜑 𝑎𝑎 1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝛼𝛼 1 +𝑎𝑎 2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝛼𝛼 2

Special Cases:
(i) Same phase: If the two simple harmonic vibrations are in the same phase, then 𝛼𝛼1 = 𝛼𝛼2 =
𝛼𝛼 (𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠). Thus if the two vibrations acting on the particle are in the same phase or if the phase
differences 𝛼𝛼1 − 𝛼𝛼2 = 0, 2𝜋𝜋, 4𝜋𝜋, … … = 2𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛, where n = 0, 1, 2, ….., then we get from eq. (5)
cos(𝛼𝛼1 − 𝛼𝛼2 ) = 1
and 𝐴𝐴2 = 𝑎𝑎12 + 𝑎𝑎22 + 2𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎2 = (𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑎2 )2
∴ 𝐴𝐴 = 𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑎2
(𝑎𝑎 +𝑎𝑎 2 )𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝛼𝛼
and 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 = (𝑎𝑎 1 = 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
1 +𝑎𝑎 2 )𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝛼𝛼

∴ 𝑦𝑦 = (𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑎2 )𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝛼𝛼) ……………….(6)

If the amplitudes of the individual vibrations are equal, i.e., 𝑎𝑎1 = 𝑎𝑎2 = 𝑎𝑎(𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠), then for the
same phase condition
𝐴𝐴 = 2𝑎𝑎, 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐴𝐴2 = 4𝑎𝑎2
(ii) Opposite phase: If the two vibrations acting on the particle are in opposite phase i.e., if the
phase difference 𝛼𝛼1 − 𝛼𝛼2 = 𝜋𝜋, 3𝜋𝜋, 5𝜋𝜋, … … = (2𝑛𝑛 + 1)𝜋𝜋, where n = 0, 1, 2, ….., then we get
from eq. (5)
𝐴𝐴2 = 𝑎𝑎12 + 𝑎𝑎22 − 2𝑎𝑎1 𝑎𝑎2 = (𝑎𝑎1 − 𝑎𝑎2 )2
∴ 𝐴𝐴 = 𝑎𝑎1 − 𝑎𝑎2
If the amplitudes of the individual vibrations are equal, i.e., 𝑎𝑎1 = 𝑎𝑎2 = 𝑎𝑎(𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠), then for the
opposite phase condition
𝐴𝐴 = 0 (i. e. , the resultant vibration is zero).
# Problem: Two SHM acting simultaneously on a particle are given by the equations
 π  π
y1 = 2 sin  ωt +  and y 2 = 3 sin  ωt +  . Calculate (a) amplitude, (b) phase constant and (c)
 6  3
time period of the resultant vibration. What is the equation of resultant vibration?

Solution:
 π
Here y1 = 2 sin  ωt +  (1)
 6
  π
y 2 = 3 sin  ωt +  (2)
 3
These equations are similar to the equation
y1 = a1 sin (ωt + α 1 ) (3)
y 2 = a 2 sin (ωt + α 2 ) (4)
The resultant vibration is,
y = A sin (ωt + ϕ ) (5)

A 2 = a12 + a 22 + 2a1 a 2 cos(α 1 − α 2 ) (6)

a1 sin α 1 + a 2 sin α 2
and tan ϕ = (7)
a1 cos α 1 + a 2 cos α 2

π π
Here a1 = 2, a2 = 3, α1 = , α2 =
6 3
(a) Resultant amplitude

A = a12 + a 22 + 2a1 a 2 cos(α 1 − α 2 )

π
= 4 + 9 + 2×2×3 cos (- )
6
= 4.939
 2 × 0.5 + 3 × 0.886 
(b) ϕ = tan −1 
 2 × 0.886 + 3 × 0.5 
ϕ = tan −1 [1.114] = 48.10
(c) The time period of the resultant vibration is the same as the individual time periods.

4𝜋𝜋
The equation of the resultant vibration is 𝑦𝑦 = 4.939 sin(𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 + ).
15

Composition of two SH vibrations of equal time periods acting at right angles (Lissajous
figures)
When a particle is influenced simultaneously by two simple harmonic motions at right angles to
each other, the resultant motion of the particle traces a curve. These curves are called a
Lissajous’ figures. The shape of the curve depends on the time period, phase difference and the
amplitude of the two constituent vibrations.
Let x = a sin (ωt + α ) (1)
 y = b sin ωt (2)
represent the displacements of a particle along the x-and y-axes due (because they are mutually
perpendicular to each other) to the influence of two simple harmonic vibrations action
simultaneously on a particle in perpendilu1ar directions. Here, the two vibrations are of the same
period but are of different amplitudes and different phase angles.

y y2
From Eqn. (2), sin ωt = , so cos ωt = 1 − 2
b b
From Eqn. (1),
x
= sin( wt + α )
a (3)
= [sin ωt cos α + cos ωt sin α ]
Substituting the values of sinωt and cosωt in equation (3):

x y y2 
=  cos α + 1 − 2 sin α 
a  b b 

x y y2
or, − cos α = 1 − 2 sin α
a b b

x2 y2 2 xy  y2  2
Squaring, 2 − 2 cos α −
2
cos α = 1 − 2  sin α

a b ab  b 

x2 y2
[
or, 2 − 2 sin 2 α + cos 2 α −
a b
]
2 xy
ab
cos α = sin 2 α

x 2 y 2 2 xy
∴ 2 − 2 − cos α = sin 2 α (4)
a b ab
Eq. (4) is the general equation of the resultant vibration of the two vibrations given by eq. (1) and
eq. (2). This represents the general equation of an ellipse. Thus, due to the superimposition of
two simple harmonic vibrations, the displacement of the particle will be along a curve given by
equation (4).
Special cases:
a) If α = 0 or 2π; cos α = 1, sin α = 0.
x 2 y 2 2 xy
+ − =0
a2 b2 ab
 x y b
or, − = 0 or , y = x (5)
a b a
This represents the equation of the straight line BD.
b) If α = π; cos α = -1, sin α = 0.
x 2 y 2 2 xy
∴ + + =0
a2 b2 ab
x y b
∴  +  = 0 or , y = − x (6)
a b a
This represents the eqn. of the straight line AC. Equation (5) and (6) are equal but opposite in
magnitude (i,e., opposite in phase: phase difference 90°)
c) If α = π/2 or 3π/2; cos α = 0, sin α = 1.
x2 y2
∴ + =1
a2 b2
This represents the equation of the ellipse EFGH with a and b as the semi-major and semi-minor
axes.
d) If α = π/2 or 3π/2 and a = b; cos α = 0, sin α = 1.
x2 y2
∴ + =1
a2 a2
or, x 2 + y 2 = a 2
This represents the equation of a circle of radius “a”
e) If α = π/4 or 7π/4; the resultant vibration is an oblique ellipse KLMN as shown. On the other
hand if α = 3π/2 or 5π/4, the resultant vibration is again an oblique ellipse KLMN as shown.
Example 1:
Example 2: Sketch the graph of the parametric equation where: x = 2 cos t and y = cos(t + 4).

Solution: First, derive the resultant equation, and then put the value of t as shown in the Table.
Now, draw the graph by putting the values of x and y in the graph.
Similarly, example 3.