Chapter 3 - Simple Harmonic Motion Flashcards
What is meant by the amplitude of an Oscillation?
The maximum displacement of the oscillating object from equilibrium.
What is meant by the equilibrium position?
The lowest point of the oscillation. The position where the speed is at its maximum and where the acceleration is zero.
What is meant by the Time Period of an oscillation?
The time for one complete cycle of oscillations.
What is meant by the Frequency of an oscillation?
The number of cycles per second made by the oscillating object.
What is meant by Phase Difference?
The amount by which two cyclical motions of the same frequency, are out of step with each other.
During simple harmonic motion, the variation of velocity against time is given by the gradient of…?
Displacement against time
During simple harmonic motion, the variation of acceleration against time is given by the gradient of…?
Velocity against time
Simple harmonic motion is defined as oscillating motion in which the acceleration is proportional to the ______ and always in the opposite direction to the ______?
Displacement
Maximum displacement = ±_____?
Amplitude
During simple harmonic motion, the acceleration is always in the opposite direction to the ________?
Displacement
What is the name of the resultant force acting on the object towards the equilibrium?
Restoring force
During oscillation, where does the Restoring force (Or resultant force) act towards?
Towards the equilibrium position
During oscillation of a mass-spring system, how can you reduce the frequency?
Adding extra mass OR Using weaker springs
During a mass-spring system oscillation, what provides the Restoring force?
The Tension in the spring
During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the tension in the spring equal to?
Tension = kΔL (Where ΔL is the extension and k is the spring constant)
During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the restoring force on the object equal to?
-kx (Where x is the displacement of the mass relative to the equilibrium point and k is the spring constant)
During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the acceleration equal to?
a = restoring force/mass = -kx/m
During a mass-spring system oscillation, where is the Tension at a maximum?
When the mass is at its amplitude
During a mass-spring system oscillation, between what two values do the tension vary from?
mg + kA to mg - kA
During a mass-spring system oscillation, where is the Tension at a minimum?
At the equilibrium point
During a mass-spring system oscillation, what is the Time Period equal to?
Time Period = 1/f = 2π√(m/k) = 2π√(L/g)
What is the definition of a free oscillation?
An oscillation with constant amplitude (Because no friction is acting on it)
During a free oscillation, what do the only forces acting on it combine to make?
The restoring force
During a free oscillation on a mass-spring system, what do the Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy add together to make? (At all times)
1/2kA² (Where A is the Amplitude and k is the spring constant) which is the same as the potential energy at maximum displacement and the Kinetic energy at zero displacement.
During a free oscillation, what shape would the Potential energy give?
A parabola
During a free oscillation, what shape would the Kinetic energy give?
An inverted parabola
Describe Light Damping
Reducing an oscillation by reducing the Amplitude by a small amount after each cycle. Light Damping can take a long time to stop an oscillation completely.
Describe Heavy Damping
Reducing an oscillation by reducing the Amplitude by a moderate amount after each cycle. Heavy Damping stops an oscillation to Equilibrium quicker than Light Damping.
Describe Critical Damping
Reducing an oscillation by stopping the system after it has been displaced and released from Equilibrium. Critical Damping prevents the system from oscillating. Critical Damping stops the system oscillating in the shortest time possible.
Describe Overdamping
Reducing an oscillation by stopping the system after it has been displaced. Overdamping prevents the system from oscillating. However, it takes longer to return the system to equilibrium than Critical Damping.
In terms of Oscillations, what is meant by resonance?
When the applied frequency to an Oscillation is equal to its natural frequency
In terms of Oscillations, what is meant by a periodic force?
A force applied at regular intervals
When does an Oscillation undergo Forced Oscillations?
When a periodic force is applied to it
What is meant by an Oscillation’s natural frequency?
The frequency a system Oscillates at without a periodic force being applied to it
What is the Phase Difference between the displacement and periodic force during resonance?
½π
During resonance, the ______ the damping, the _______ the amplitude becomes
- Lighter/Heavier
2. Larger/Smaller
As the applied frequency becomes increasingly larger than the natural frequency of a mass-spring system, the amplitude of oscillations ________ more and more
Decreases
As the applied frequency becomes increasingly larger than the natural frequency of a mass-spring system, the Phase Difference ________ from ___ until the displacement is ____ radians out of phase with the periodic force
- increases
- ½π
- π
