Module 5.3

Question 1

Angular Frequency

Answer 1

A measure of an object’s angular displacement per unit time.

Question 2

Critical Damping

Answer 2

The form of damping that reduces the displacement of an
oscillating object to its equilibrium position in the quickest time possible and
without further oscillation.

Question 3

Damping

Answer 3

The dissipation of energy from an oscillating system. The consequence
is that the amplitude of oscillation will decrease. Damping occurs when a force
opposes the system’s motion.

Question 4

Forced Oscillations

Answer 4

Repeated up and down oscillations, at the frequency of a
driver. The amplitude of oscillation is small at high frequencies and large at low
frequencies

Question 5

Free Oscillations

Answer 5

Oscillations that are not caused by a driver. An object will
naturally oscillate at its natural frequency

Question 6

Isochronous Oscillator

Answer 6

An oscillator whose frequency is independent to
amplitude

Question 7

Natural Frequency

Answer 7

The frequency that a system naturally oscillates at when
there is no driving force

Question 8

Overdamping

Answer 8

A type of damping where the system is damped more than
required to stop the oscillations. It takes longer for the system to return to
equilibrium than for critical damping.

Question 9

Resonance

Answer 9

Resonance occurs when the frequency of oscillations is equal to the
natural frequency of the oscillating system. The rate of energy transfer is at a
maximum during resonance.

Question 10

Simple Harmonic Motion

Answer 10

Motion where the acceleration of an object is directly
proportional, and in the opposite direction, to its displacement.

Question 11

Underdamping

Answer 11

A type of damping where energy is gradually removed from the
system and the amplitude of oscillations slowly decreases

Question 12

Techniques to investigate the period and frequency of simple harmonic motion

Answer 12

• The frequency of the oscillator is equal to the reciprocal of the period. The period of the
  oscillator, and hence the frequency, can be determined by setting the oscillator (such as a
  pendulum or a mass on a spring) in to motion, and using a stopwatch to measure the time taken
  for one oscillation
• In order to increase the accuracy of this measurement, the time for 10 oscillations to take place
  can be measured, and this time divided by 10 to find the period. An oscillator in simple harmonic
  motion is an isochronous oscillation, so the period of the oscillation is independent of the
  amplitude. A fiducial marker is used as the point to start and stop timings, and is normally
  placed at the equilibrium position.

Question 13

Max velocity

Answer 13

𝜔A

Question 14

For the max amplitude what is the gravitational and kinetic energy

Answer 14

kinetic energy is 0
Gravitational is max

Question 15

For the equilibrium what is the gravitational and kinetic energy

Answer 15

kinetic energy is max
Gravitational is 0

Question 16

Light damping

Answer 16

occurs naturally and the amplitude decreases
exponentially

Question 17

heavy damping

Answer 17

the amplitude
decreases dramatically

Question 18

Resonance

Answer 18

When the driving frequency of the external
force applied to an object is the same as the
natural frequency of the object, resonance
occurs.
This is when the amplitude of oscillation
rapidly increases, and if there is no damping, the
amplitude will continue to increase until the
system fails.
As damping is increased, the
amplitude will decrease at all frequencies, and
the maximum amplitude occurs at a lower
frequency.