Vibrations and Waves MP205, Assignment 4 Solutions

1. (a) Show that the frequency of vibration under adiabatic conditions of a

column of gas confined to a cylindrical tube, closed at one end, with
a well-fitting but freely moving piston of mass m is given by:
r
Ap
=
lm
.
(b) A steel ball of diameter 2cm oscillates vertically in a 12-liter glass
tube containing air at atmospheric pressure (as pictured below). Verify that the period of oscillation should be about 1 sec. (Assume adiabatic pressure change with = 1.4. Density of steel = 7600kgm3 .)

(a) Under adiabatic conditions we have :pV = constant

pV = const
ln(pV ) = const
ln(p) + ln(V ) = const
ln(p) + ln(V ) = const
Differentiating this w.r.t. V gives:
1 dp

+ =0
p dV
V
p
dp
+
=0
dV
V
dV p
dp =
V
Now we know we can express :
force F as F = Ap (= Adp)
volume V as V = Al
the change in volume V as V = Ay (= dV )

F = Adp
dV p
= A
V
A2 yp
=
Al
Ap
=
y
l
Ap
y
ma =
l
Ap
a=
y
ml
We know a = 2 y
Ap
ml
r
Ap
=
ml

2 =

(b)
4
4
mass of ball;m = V = r3 =
3
3
2
2
volume of tube;V = lA = lr

2
0.02
0.012 = l
2
l 38.2m

0.02
2

3
(7600) 0.032kg

Using this:
r
=

Ap
s ml

0.02 2
2

(1.4)(101325)
= 36.5 = 6.04sec1
(38.2)(0.032)
2
2
T =
=
= 1.04 1sec

6.04
=

* 2. The motion of a linear oscillator may be represented by means of a graph

in which x is shown as abscissa and dx/dt as ordinate. The history of the
oscillator is then a curve.
(a) Show that for an undamped oscillator this curve is an ellipse.
(b) Show (at least qualitatively) that if a damping term is introduced
one gets a curve spiraling into the origin.
(a) For an undamped oscillator we have x = A cos(t + ).
x = A cos(t + )
dx
= A sin(t + )
dt

= A sin(t + ) satisfy
We want to show that x = A cos(t + ) and y = dx
dt
an ellipse equation.

2

2
Ellipse equation is given by: xa + yb = 1
In our case x = A cos(t + ) and y = dx
= A sin(t + )
dt
x2
x2
A2
y2
y2
2 A2

= A2 cos2 (t + )
= cos2 (t + )
= 2 A2 sin2 (t + )
= sin2 (t + )

Using:
sin2 (x) + cos2 (x) = 1
We can write:
x2
y2
+
=1
A2 2 A2
 x 2  y 2
+
=1
A
A
as required.
the curve is an ellipse
(b) If we think of our ellipse in (a) in terms of a pendulum:

If we release the pendulum from the point 1, its velocity is 0 and it has
maximum (positive) displacement
When the pendulum goes through 2 it has maximum (negative, as it is
going in the negative direction) velocity and its displacement is 0
When the pendulum reaches 3 it has maximum (negative) displacement,
and 0 velocity
Finally, when the pendulum returns through 4 it will have maximum (positive) velocity, and again 0 displacement
We can see this corresponds to the points on the ellipse to the right

 If we release the pendulum from the point 1, its velocity is 0 and it has
maximum (positive) displacement, as before.
When the pendulum goes through 2 it has its maximum (negative, as it is
going in the negative direction) velocity for that swing (although this is less
than the maximum velocity before due to damping) and its displacement
is 0
When the pendulum reaches 3 it has its maximum (negative) displacement
for this swing, but due to damping this displacement is not as great as the
original maximum displacement, and 0 velocity
When the pendulum returns through 4 it will have its maximum (positive)
velocity for this swing, which is less than the velocity when it went through
it on 2 , and again 0 displacement
Continuing in this vein we can see the graph that corresponds to this is a
curve spiralling into the origin.
3. Verify that x = Aet cos t is a possible solution of the equation
dx
d2 x
+
+ 02 x = 0,
2
dt
dt
and find and in terms of and 0 .
Given x = Aet cos t we differentiate it using the product rule to find its first and
second derivatives
dx
= Aet sin(t) Aet cos(t)
dt
d2 x
= 2 Aet cos(t) + Aet sin(t) + Aet sin(t) + 2 Aet cos(t)
2
dt
= (2 2 )Aet cos(t) + 2Aet sin(t)
To show its a solution we sub these derivatives back into the original equation to
obtain
(2 2 )Aet cos(t) + 2Aet sin(t) Aet sin(t) Aet cos(t)
+ 02 Aet cos(t) = 0
(2 2 + 02 )Aet cos(t) + (2 )Aet sin(t) = 0

For this to be true for all values of t the coefficients of the cosine and sine functions
must be 0. This means we must have that:
2 2 + 02 = 0
2 = 0

(1)
(2)

Looking first at (2):

2 = 0

=
2
And using this in (1):
2 2 + 02 = 0
2

2 + 02 = 0
4
2
2
2 + 02
=0
4
2
2 = 02
4
r

2
4
q
and = 02

=
So x = Aet cos t is a solution when =

02

2
.
4

* 4. An object of mass 0.2 kg is hung from a spring whose spring constant is

80 N/m. The object is subject to a resistive force given by bv, where v
is its velocity in meters per second.
(a) Set up the differential equation of motion for free oscillations of the
system.

(b) If the damped frequency is 3/2 of the undamped frequency, what

is the value of the constant b?
(c) What is the Q of the system?
(a) We have a damped oscillator where the damping term is bv. So the sum of
the forces is F = kx bv. By Newtons second law the sum of the forces
must equal ma so we have ma = kx bv.
ma + bv + kx = 0
dx
dx
m 2 + b + kx = 0
dt
dt
d2 x
b dx
k
+
+
x=0
dt2
m dt
m
d2 x
dx
+
+ 02 x = 0
2
dt
dt
2

p
where = b/m and 0 = k/m.
Using our values for m and k from the question we can write:
b
b
=
m
0.2r
r

k
80
=
= 400 = 20
0 =
m
0.2
=

(b) 0 is the undamped angular

frequency and is the damped angular frequency.
We have the relation = 3/20 .
From the previous question we know that 2 = 02 2 /4. Therefore
3 2
0 = 02 2 /4
4
b
0 = =
m
b = 0 m = 20(0.2) = 4
(c) Q is given by the ratio of the constants 0 /.

Q=

0
20
=
=1

20

5. Many oscillatory systems, although the loss or dissipation mechanism is

not analogous to viscous damping, show an exponential decrease in their
stored average energy with time E = E0 et . A Q for such oscillators may
be defined using the definition Q = 0 , where 0 is the natural angular
frequency.
(a) When the note middle C on the piano is struck, its energy of
oscillation decreases to one half its initial value in about 1 sec. The
frequency of middle C is 256 Hz. What is the Q of the system?
(b) If the note an octave higher (512 Hz) takes about the same time for
its energy to decay, what is its Q?
(c) A free, damped harmonic oscillator, consisting of a mass m = 0.1kg
moving in a viscous liquid of damped coefficient b (Fviscous = bv),
and attached to a spring of spring constant k = 0.9N m1 , is observed
as it performs oscillatory motion. Its average energy decays to 1e of
its initial value in 4 sec. What is the Q of the oscillator? What is
the value of b?
(a) We know that E = E0 et .
Using this:
E = E0 et

after 1 second; t = 1 we have:

E0
= E0 e(1)
2
1
= e
2
 
1
ln
=
2


ln 21 =
ln (2) =
= ln(2) = 0.69
To find Q we also need to find 0
0 =

2
= 2f = 2(256) = 512
T

Now we can use Q = 0/

Q=

0
512
=
= 2331.15

0.69

(b) Our change in energy is the same so we still have = 0.69

00 = 2f 0 = 2(512) = 2(256)(2) = 2(2f ) = 2(2f )
where f is the frequency from part (a), this gives us:
00 = 20
Using this we can find our Q0 for this note:
Q0 =

0
00
=2
= 2Q = 2(1331.15) = 4662.3

(c) To find b, we know that E = E0 et .

Using this:
E = E0 et
after 1 second; t = 1 we have:
1
E0

= E0 e(4)

e
1 = 4
1
=
4
Using = b/m:

1
b
=
4
m
m
0.1
b=
=
= 0.025
4
4
To find Q:
0
Q=
=

k 1
=
m

0.9 1
=
94 = 3(4) = 12
0.1 1/4

6. A U-tube has vertical arms of radii r and 2r, connected by a horizontal

tube of length ` whose radius increases linearly from r to 2r. The U-tube
contains liquid up to a height h in each arm. The liquid is set oscillating,
and at a given instant the liquid in the narrower arm is a distance y above
the equilibrium level.

*(a) Show that the potential energy of the liquid is given by U = 58 gr2 y 2 .
*(b) Show that the kinetic energy of a small slice of liquid in the horizontal
arm (see the diagram) is given by
 2
1
r2 dx
dy
dK =
.
2 (1 + x/`)2 dt
(Note that, if liquid is not to pile up anywhere, the product velocity
cross section must have the same value everywhere along the tube.)
(c) Using the result of part (b), show that the total kinetic energy of all
the moving liquid is given by
 2
5
dy
1
2
.
K = r (` + h)
4
2
dt
(Ignore any nastiness at the corners.)
(d) From (a) and (c) calculate the period of oscillations of ` = 5h/2.
(a) Potential energy is U = mgh.
Narrow column (I) gains P.E while wider column (II) loses P.E. Since radii are
different to find height h that liquid is lifted we must find h on column (I) and h
on column (II), then their average. Since no liquid is displaced the volumes must
equal. Let x be the height the liquid goes down in column (II). The volumes are
VI = r2 y and VII = 4r2 x.
Equating the volumes we find that x = (1/4)y and therefore the average height is:


1 1
5
average =
y+y = y
2 4
8
Subbing this into the expression for the P.E gives U = mg(5/8)y.
We now find the mass of this piece of liquid. mass=density cross sectional area,
so m = r2 y and the potential energy is given by
5
U = gr2 y 2
8

(b) Told velocity cross section = constant everywhere. To find the cross section
we need the radius at each point.
r(x = 0) = r0 = r
r(x > 0) = rx = r(1 + x/`)

A(x = 0) = A0 = r2
A(x > 0) = Ax = r2 (1 + x/`)

Note that at x = 0, r = r and at x = `, r = 2r as desired. Product velocity by cross

section is constant implies that:
A0

dy
dx
= Ax
dt
dt

dx
A0 dy
=
dt
Ax dt

Kinetic energy is (1/2)mv 2 and the mass of dx = density volume = Ax dx, hence
the kinetic energy of dx is:
 2
 2  2
 2
1
dx
A0
dy
A20 dy
1
1
dK = Ax dx
= Ax dx
= dx
2
dt
2
Ax
dt
2
Ax dt




2
2
(r2 )2
dy
dy
1
1 dxr2
= dx 2
=
2
2
2
r (1 + x/`)
dt
2 (1 + x/`)
dt
(c) Use kinetic energy is (1/2)mv 2 for columns (I) and (II) and integrate answer
of part (b) for x = 0 to x = ` to find kinetic energy of liquid in horizontal arm.
For column (I), x = 0 so velocity all in y direction.
 2
dy
1 2 1
2
KEI = mv = r h
2
2
dt
Similarly for column (II)
KEII

1
1
= mv 2 = 4r2 h
2
2

dx
dt

2
,

but at this column x = ` and therefore

dx
A0 dy
r2
dy
1 dy
=
= 2
=
.
dt
Ax dt
r (1 + x/`)2 dt
4 dt
So filling this back in we get
KEII

1
1
= mv 2 = 4r2 h
2
2

 2  2
1
dy
.
4
dt

To find KE of liquid in horizontal arm we integrate answer part (b) from x = 0 to

x = `, that is
 2 Z `
 2
Z `
1
dy
dx
1
dy
2
2`
KEIII =
dK = r
= r
2
2
dt
2
2 dt
0
0 (1 + x/`)
Total KE is KEI + KEII + KEIII , which is
 2
 2  2
 2
1
dy
1
1
dy
1
dy
2
2
2`
+ 4r h
+ r
KE = r h
2
dt
2
4
dt
2
2 dt

  2
1
5h
dy
= r2 ` +
4
2
dt

(d) Use answers to parts (a) and (c) to find the total energy, the sum of potential
and kinetic.
1
E = KE + P E = m
2

dx
dt

2

1
+ kx2
2

We have from parts (a) and (c) that


  2
1
5h
dy
5
2
E = KE + P E = r ` +
+ gr2 y 2
4
2
dt
8
"


  2 #

5h
dy
1 5
1 1
2
2 2
r ` +
+
gr y
=
2 2
2
dt
2 4
So clearly m = (1/2)r2 (` + 5h/2) and k = (5/4)gr2 , so
s
r
r
k
5g/4
g
=
=
=
m
(1/2)(` + 5h/2)
2h
when ` = 5h/2. This also means that the period T is
s
2
2h
= 2
.
T =