Phy 159: Waves and Oscillation,

Geometrical Optics, Wave

Mechanics
By Shohana Khondaker
What is Periodic Motion?
If a body moves in such a way that it crosses a certain point from the
same direction after a certain period of time, the motion is called
periodic motion.

Earth moves around the sun:

A

Spring-Mass System:
What is Oscillation or vibratory motion?
A periodic back and forth motion when the body moves half of its time period in
one direction and the other half of its time period in the opposite direction.

Spring-Mass System: Time taken to return

to the initial position is
called time period T.

Simple Pendulum:
What is wave?
A periodic disturbance that transfers energy from one point to another by
oscillating the particles of the medium without making any net movement of
the particles.

Transverse Wave Longitudinal Wave

Types of Wave based on their ability to
transmit energy:
`
Mechanical Wave: The wave that requires medium to propagate.
Example: Sound Wave

Electromagnetic Wave: The wave that does not

require medium to propagate. Electromagnetic
waves are produced by the vibration of charged
particles.

Example: Light Wave, X-Ray etc.

Types of Wave based on their direction of
movement:
1) Transverse Wave: Oscillation is normal to the direction of
propagation.

2) Longitudinal Wave: Oscillation is parallel (antiparallel) to the

direction of propagation.
 Transverse Wave
Characteristics of transverse wave is given below:

• Transverse waves are always characterized by particle motion being

perpendicular to wave motion.
• Transverse waves travels in the form of crest and trough.
• Transverse wave requires rigid (solid) medium to propagate.
• There is no pressure and density variations in the medium during the passage
of a transverse wave.
• Transverse waves travels faster than longitudinal waves.
 Longitudinal wave
Characteristics of Longitudinal wave is given below:

• Longitudinal waves can sometimes also be conceptualized as pressure

waves.
• Longitudinal waves are always characterized by particle motion being
parallel to wave motion.
• Longitudinal waves travels in the form of compression and rarefaction.
• waves traveling through the bulk of a fluid (such as a liquid or a gas) are
always longitudinal waves.
• There is pressure and density variations in the medium during the passage
of a longitudinal wave.
Some Important Definitions:
Wavelength: The distance travelled by a wave in a complete cycle.
Time Period, T: The time required to complete one oscillation is known
as time period.

Frequency, f: Number of waves (full cycle)that pass a fixed point per

unit time.
f=1/T

Amplitude: Maximum distance an oscillating particle moves in a

direction from its equilibrium position.
Phase: Phase is the position of a point in time (an
instant) on a wave.

Crest: Crest is a point in the cycle where maximum or peak

amplitude exists. In another way, it is a point on the positive
side of a wave where maximum amplitude exits.

Trough:Trough is a point in the cycle where minimum

amplitude exists. In another way, it is a point on the
negative side of a wave where minimum amplitude exists.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
If the oscillation is such that the oscillating body experiences a
restoring force when it is displaced from its equilibrium position and
the restoring force is proportional to the displacement and towards the
equilibrium position, then the motion is called Simple Harmonic
Oscillation, and the system is called Simple Harmonic Oscillator.
Example:
1) Simple Pendulum
2) Spring Mass System
 Characteristics of SHM
A simple harmonic oscillation or motion has the following
charateristics:

• Its motion is Periodic

• At particular time interval the motion becomes opposite.
• Its motion is along straight line.
• Its acceleration is proportional to the displacement and opposite to the
displacement.
• Acceleration points toward the mean position of the object.
Relation between Simple Harmonic Oscillator and uniform circular motion
Let a particle start from A and move at angular velocity ω round a circular path ABCD in
anti-clockwise direction (Fig:1). Let O be the centre of the circle and OA be its radius.
Let after time t the particle reach the position P. Now from point P draw a normal PN
on diameter BOD. Then N will be end point of the
normal

Fig. 1
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Let ON = y, so from triangle OPN we get,
y = OP sin θ
= A sin θ
As the particle revolves at uniform angular velocity, so
<POA= θ = ω
Angle θ is called Phase angle.
Now, y = A sin θ = A sin ωt.
This is the equation for displacement of a particle executing SHM .
Velocity: We know the rate of change of displacement is called velocity. It is denoted
by v.
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
Hence velocity, 𝑣 = = 𝑣 = (𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡) = 𝜔 𝐴 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity is called acceleration. It is denoted by a
𝑑𝑣
acceleration, a = = -𝜔2 𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡
𝑑𝑡
 Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Angle Position of the Displacement Velocity Acceleration
𝜶 = 𝝎𝒕 vibrating particle 𝒚 = 𝑨 𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 𝒗 = 𝝎𝑨 𝑪𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕 𝒂 = −𝝎𝟐 𝑨 𝑺𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕
0 O Zero 𝝎𝑨 0
𝜋 Y +A 0 −𝝎𝟐 𝑨
2
𝜋 O Zero -𝝎𝑨 0
3𝜋 Y’ -A 0 𝝎𝟐 𝑨
2
2𝜋 O Zero 𝝎𝑨 0

We can conclude that, when the vibrating particle in vertical axis moves from equilibrium position O, an acceleration
(Force as F = ma) comes into action against the direction of the displacement. This force is known as restoring force and
it is proportional to the displacement.
𝑭~−𝒙
F is the restoring force, x is displacement. Negative sign arises because the restoring force and displacement are
opposite to each other.

Hence the vibrating particle along the vertical axis has Simple Harmonic Oscillatory Motion.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
If the oscillation begins from a point other than origin, then there is an
initial phase α.
The displacement is given by,
𝒚 = 𝑨 𝑺𝒊𝒏 (𝝎𝒕 + 𝜶)

When α is positive : α
0

When α is negative :
α
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Displacement, 𝑦 = 𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼)
𝑑𝑦
Velocity, 𝑣= = 𝜔𝐴 𝐶𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑡 +𝛼
𝑑𝑡
𝑑2 𝑦 2
Acceleration, 𝑎= = −𝜔 𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼 = −𝜔2 𝑦
𝑑𝑡 2

Hence we can write, Double derivative of the

function y(t) returns back
𝑑2 𝑦 2𝑦
= −𝜔 the same function with
𝑑𝑡 2 some multiplicative
𝑑2 𝑦 2𝑦 = constant −𝜔2 .
+ 𝜔 0…………… 3
𝑑𝑡 2
Equation (3) is called Differential Equation of Simple Harmonic
Oscillation.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Problem 1.
Show that for a particle executing Simple Harmonic Oscillation, its
velocity at any instant is
𝑑𝑦 1
= 𝜔 𝐴2 − 𝑦 2 2
𝑑𝑡
• A particle oscillates in simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of 2 m, an angular
frequency of 4π, and no phase shift. What is the specific formula for its velocity with
respect to time.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Problem 2.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator
Problem 3.

A particle executes simple harmonic motion whose displacement at any

time t is given by,
2𝜋
𝑦 = 12 𝑆𝑖𝑛 ( 𝑡 + 𝜋/4)
10
Calculate amplitude, frequency, epoch, displacement at t = 1.25 s,
velocity at t = 2.5 s and acceleration at t = 5 s.