Oscillations

Question 1

What are the key features of simple harmonic motion?

Answer 1

• When a system is displaced from equilibrium, there is a restoring force that tends to restore the system to equilibrium.
• The restoring force is directly proportional to displacement from equilibrium.
• Has the characteristics of period T, frequency f, amplitude A and angular frequency ω.

Question 2

Give an example of how damping is used in the real world.

Answer 2

• Ropes that are used for mountain climbing are manufactured so that they undergo critical damping. This means that if a climber falls, they won’t oscillate, but their fall is broken as much as it can be.
• Car suspensions also use critical damping to quickly and smoothly return the car to an equilibrium position.

Question 3

What is the stock answer for resonance?

Answer 3

DON’T MENTION STANDING WAVES
- An object has a natural frequency (of…)
- There are forced oscillations produced by…
- When the driving frequency is different to the natural frequency, there is not much energy transfer.
- When the driving frequency matches the natural frequency, resonance occurs.
- When resonance occurs, there is maximum energy transfer to the material.
- This resonance results in… (e.g. loudness, etc).