Physics 111: Lecture 25

Today’s Agenda
● Recap of last lecture
● Using “initial conditions” to solve problems
● The general physical pendulum
● The torsion pendulum
● Energy in SHM
➧ Atomic Vibrations
● Problem: Vertical Spring
● Problem: Transport Tunnel
● SHM Review

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 1

 SHM and Springs

Force: d 2s 2 k
2
= −ω s ω=
dt m
k
s

Solution: 0
s = A cos(ωt + φ)
k m
m

0 s
Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 2
 Velocity and Acceleration

Position: x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ)

Velocity: v(t) = -ωA sin(ωt + φ) by taking
Acceleration: a(t) = -ω2A cos(ωt + φ) derivatives,
since:

xMAX = A
dx ( t )
vMAX = ωA v( t ) =
dt
aMAX = ω2A
dv ( t )
a( t ) =
k dt
m

0 x
Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 3
 Lecture 25, Act 1
Simple Harmonic Motion
● A mass oscillates up & down on a spring. Its position as a
function of time is shown below. At which of the points shown
does the mass have positive velocity and negative acceleration?

y(t)
(a)
(c)
t
(b)

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 4

 Lecture 25, Act 1
Solution
dy
● The slope of y(t) tells us the sign of the velocity since v =
dt
● y(t) and a(t) have the opposite sign since a(t) = -ω2 y(t)

a<0 a<0
v<0 y(t) v>0
(a)
(c)
t
(b)
a>0 The answer is (c).
v>0
Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 5
 Example

● A mass m = 2 kg on a spring oscillates with amplitude A =

10 cm. At t = 0 its speed is maximum, and is v = +2 m/s.
➧ What is the angular frequency of oscillation ω?
➧ What is the spring constant k?
v MAX 2 m s
vMAX = ωA ω= = = 20 s −1
A 10 cm
k
Also: ω = k = mω2
m

So k = (2 kg) x (20 s -1) 2 = 800 kg/s2 = 800 N/m

k
m

x
Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 6
 Initial Conditions

Use “initial conditions” to determine phase φ! x(t) = A cos(ωt + φ)

Suppose we are told x(0) = 0 , and x is v(t) = -ωA sin(ωt + φ)
initially increasing (i.e. v(0) = positive): a(t) = -ω 2
A cos(ωt + φ)

x(0) = 0 = A cos(φ) φ = π/2 or -π/2

v(0) > 0 = -ωA sin(φ) φ<0

So φ = -π/2
θ
π 2π
k cos sin
m

0 x
Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 7
 Initial Conditions...

So we find φ = -π/2!!

x(t) = A cos(ωt - π/2 ) x(t) = A sin(ωt)

v(t) = -ωA sin(ωt - π/2 ) v(t) = ωA cos(ωt)
a(t) = -ω2A cos(ωt - π/2 ) a(t) = -ω2A sin(ωt)

A x(t)

ωt
π 2π
k
m -A

0 x
Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 8
 Lecture 25, Act 2
Initial Conditions
● A mass hanging from a vertical spring is lifted a distance d
above equilibrium and released at t = 0. Which of the
following describes its velocity and acceleration as a
function of time?

(a) v(t) = -vmax sin(ωt) a(t) = -amax cos(ωt)

(b) v(t) = vmax sin(ωt) a(t) = amax cos(ωt) k y

d
t=0 m
(c) v(t) = vmax cos(ωt) a(t) = -amax cos(ωt)
0

(both vmax and amax are positive numbers)

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 9

 Lecture 25, Act 2
Solution

Since we start with the maximum possible

displacement at t = 0 we know that:

y = d cos(ωt)

dy
v= = −ωd sin ( ωt ) ≡ −v max sin ( ωt ) k y
dt

dv d
a= = −ω2d cos( ωt ) ≡ −amax cos ( ωt ) t=0 m
dt
0

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 10

 Review of Simple Pendulum

● Using τ = Iα and sin θ ≈ θ for small θ

z
d 2θ
− mgLθ = mL 2

dt 2
τ I α
θ L
We found

d 2θ g
2
= −ω 2
θ where ω=
dt L m
d
Which has SHM solution θ = θ0 cos(ωt + φ)
mg

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 11

 Review of Rod Pendulum

● Using τ = Iα and sinθ ≈ θ for small θ

z
2 d θ
2
L 1
− mg θ = mL L/2
2 3 dt 2
τ I α θ
We found xCM
d L
d 2θ 3g mg
2
= −ω 2
θ where ω=
dt 2L

Which has SHM solution θ = θ0 cos(ωt + φ)

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 12

 General Physical Pendulum
Physical
● Suppose we have some arbitrarily shaped Pendulum
solid of mass M hung on a fixed axis, and
that we know where the CM is located and
what the moment of inertia I about the axis is. z-axis
● The torque about the rotation (z) axis for
small θ is (sin θ ≈ θ )
R
d 2θ
≈ − MgRθ = I τ = θ
dt 2
-Mgd -MgRθ xCM
τ α
d

2
Mg
d θ MgR
= −ω 2 θ where ω=
dt 2 I
θ = θ0 cos(ωt + φ)

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 13

 Lecture 25, Act 3
Physical Pendulum
● A pendulum is made by hanging a thin hoola-hoop of
diameter D on a small nail.
➧ What is the angular frequency of oscillation of the hoop
for small displacements? (ICM = mR2 for a hoop)

pivot (nail)
g
(a) ω=
D

2g
(b) ω= D
D

(c) g
ω=
2D

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 14

 Lecture 25, Act 3 Hoop
Solution Pendulum
● The angular frequency of oscillation of the hoop for small

displacements will be given by ω = mgR (see Lecture 25 notes)

I

Use parallel axis theorem: I = Icm + mR2

= mR2 + mR2 = 2mR2
pivot (nail)
mgR g g
ω= = =
2 mR 2 2R D
cm
x R
g
So ω= m
D

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 15

 Torsion Pendulum

● Consider an object suspended by a wire

attached at its CM. The wire defines the wire
rotation axis, and the moment of inertia I
about this axis is known.
● The wire acts like a “rotational spring.” θ
➧ When the object is rotated, the wire is τ
twisted. This produces a torque that
opposes the rotation. I
➧ In analogy with a spring, the torque
produced is proportional to the
displacement: τ = -kθ

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 16

 Torsion
Torsion Pendulum...
Pendulum
● Since τ = -kθ, τ = Iα becomes
wire
d 2θ
−kθ = I
dt 2
θ
τ
2 k
d θ 2
= −ω θ where ω= I
dt 2 I

This is similar to the “mass on spring” except

I has taken the place of m (no surprise).

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 17

 Energy in SHM

● For both the spring and the pendulum, we can derive the
SHM solution by using energy conservation.

● The total energy (K + U) of a

system undergoing SHM will U
always be constant!
K
E
● This is not surprising since there
are only conservative forces U
present, hence K+U energy is s
-A 0 A
conserved.

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 18

 SHM and quadratic potentials

● SHM will occur whenever the potential is quadratic.

● Generally, this will not be the case:
● For example, the potential between
H atoms in an H2 molecule looks
something like this: U

K
U E
U
x
-A 0 A
x

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 19

 SHM and quadratic potentials...

However, if we do a Taylor expansion of this function about

the minimum, we find that for small
displacements, the potential
IS quadratic:
U
U(x) = U(x0 ) + U′(x0 ) (x- x0 ) U
1
+ U′′ (x0 ) (x- x0 )2+....
2 x0
U′(x0) = 0 (since x0 is minimum
x
of potential)

Define x′ = x - x0 and U(x0 ) = 0

1 x′

Then U(x) = 2 U′′ (x0 ) x′ 2

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 20

 SHM and quadratic potentials...

1
U(x) = U′′ (x0) x′ 2 U
2
U
Let k = U′′ (x0)
x0

Then: x
1
U(x) = 2 k x′ 2
x′
SHM potential!!

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 21

 Problem: Vertical Spring

● A mass m = 102 g is hung from a vertical spring.

The equilibrium position is at y = 0. The mass is
then pulled down a distance d = 10 cm from
equilibrium and released at t = 0. The measured
period of oscillation is T = 0.8 s. k
➧ What is the spring constant k?
y
➧ Write down the equations for the position,
velocity, and acceleration of the mass as
functions of time. 0
➧ What is the maximum velocity?
➧ What is the maximum acceleration? m -d
t=0

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 22

 Problem: Vertical Spring...

k
● What is k ? ω= k = ω2m
m

2π
ω= = 7 .85 s −1 k
T
y
(
So: k = 7 .85 s )
−1 2
0 .102 kg = 6 .29
N
m
0

m -d
t=0

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 23

 Problem: Vertical Spring...

● What are the equations of motion?

● At t = 0,
➧ y = -d = -ymax k
➧ v=0
y

● So we conclude: y(t) = -d cos(ωt)

0
v(t) = ωd sin(ωt)
a(t) = ω2d cos(ωt)
m -d
t=0

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 24

 Problem: Vertical Spring...

y(t) = -d cos(ωt)
v(t) = ωd sin(ωt) ωt
0 π 2π
a(t) = ω2d cos(ωt)
k

xmax = d = .1m y

vmax = ωd = (7.85 s-1)(.1m) = 0.78 m/s 0

m -d
amax = ω d = (7.85 s ) (.1m) = 6.2 m/s
2 -1 2 2
t=0

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 25

 Transport Tunnel

● A straight tunnel is dug from Urbana through the center of

the Earth and out the other side. A physics 111 student
jumps into the hole at noon.
➧ What time does she get back to Urbana?

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 26

 Transport Tunnel...
GmM R
FG ( R ) =
R2

where MR is the
FG mass inside radius R
R
RE FG ( R ) M R RE2
=
MR FG ( RE ) R 2 M E

but MR ∝ R 3
FG ( R ) R 3 RE2 R
= 2 3 =
FG ( RE ) R RE RE

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 27

 Transport Tunnel...

FG ( R ) R
=
FG ( RE ) RE

FG R FG ( RE ) = −mg

RE
MR R
FG = −mg = −kR
RE

Like a mass on mg
k =
a spring with RE

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 28

 Transport Tunnel...

Like a mass on k = mg
a spring with RE

k g
FG So: ω = =
R m RE
RE plug in g = 9.81 m/s2
MR and RE = 6.38 x 106 m

get ω = .00124 s-1

2π
and so T = ω = 5067 s
≈ 84 min

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 29

 Transport Tunnel...

● So she gets back to Urbana 84 minutes later, at 1:24 p.m.

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 30

 Transport Tunnel...

● Strange but true: The

period of oscillation does
not require that the tunnel
be straight through the
middle!! Any straight
tunnel gives the same
answer, as long as it is
frictionless and the density
of the Earth is constant.

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 31

 Transport Tunnel...

● Another strange but true

fact: An object orbiting the
earth near the surface will
have a period of the same
length as that of the
transport tunnel.

a = ω 2R

9.81 = ω2 6.38(10)6 m
ω = .00124 s-1
2π
so T = = 5067 s
ω
≈ 84 min

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 32

 Simple Harmonic Motion:
Summary k
s
k
ω= 0
m
m
Force: d 2s 2
2
= −ω s
dt
k
m

0 s

Solution:
s = A cos(ωt + φ) g s L
ω=
L

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 33

 Recap of today’s lecture

● Recap of last lecture

● Using “initial conditions” to solve problems
(Text: 14-1)
● The general physical pendulum (Text: 14-3)
● The torsion pendulum
● Energy in SHM (Text: 14-2)
➧ Atomic Vibrations
● Problem: Vertical Spring (Text: 14-3)
● Problem: Transport Tunnel
● SHM Review

● Look at textbook problems Chapter 14: # 51, 53, 57, 58, 65,
125

Physics 111: Lecture 25, Pg 34