Theme C — Wave Behaviour
C.1.1 Describing Oscillations — IB Physics HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions
5 min read 11 parts Lesson 3 of 37 1 quiz
Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
Lesson summary
C.1.1 Describing Oscillations — IB PHYSICS SL notes: Describe an oscillation using displacement, amplitude, period, frequency, angular frequency and phase, and read these from a graph.Oscillation — the repetitive variation with time of the displacement x of an object about its eq…
- Equilibrium position
- Restoring behaviour
- Properties
- Displacement (x)
- Amplitude (x0)
- Time period (T)
Part 1 of 9What an oscillation is
Oscillation
- Oscillation the repetitive variation with time of the displacement x of an object about its equilibrium position
- Examples are a pendulum bob, a mass on a spring, a vibrating guitar string and atoms in a solid.
Equilibrium position
- Equilibrium position the fixed central point (x = 0) where no resultant force acts on the object
Restoring behaviour
- Restoring behaviour a displaced object always accelerates back towards equilibrium
Properties
- Properties displacement, amplitude, time period, frequency and angular frequency describe the motion
Part 2 of 9Displacement and amplitude
Displacement (x)
- Displacement (x) the distance of the object from equilibrium in a stated direction
- It is a vector, so it can be positive or negative depending on the side of equilibrium.
- It is measured in metres.
Amplitude (x0)
- Amplitude (x0) the maximum displacement on either side of equilibrium
- It is a positive scalar measured in metres.
- A swing 8.0 cm either side of the centre has amplitude 8.0 cm, while the peak-to-peak range is 2x0.
Part 3 of 9Period and frequency
Time period (T)
- Time period (T) the time for one complete oscillation, in seconds
- It is measured between two successive identical states of the motion.
- If the period is constant the oscillation is isochronous.
Frequency (f)
- Frequency (f) the number of oscillations per second, in hertz
- f = 1/TWhat the symbols mean: T = period, the time for one complete wave (s) · f = frequency (Hz)
- 1 Hz = 1 s−1.
Part 4 of 9Angular frequency
1Angular frequency (ω)
- Angular frequency (ω) the rate of change of angular displacement with time, in rad s−1
- ω = 2π/T = 2πfWhat the symbols mean: ω = angular frequency (rad s−1) · f = frequency (Hz) · T = period (s)
- 2π is the angle of one full circle.
2Link to circular motion
- Link to circular motion one oscillation corresponds to an angle of 2π radians
- From x = −A to equilibrium the angular displacement is π/2.
- From equilibrium to the other extreme it is another π/2.
- The whole return journey adds π, so one oscillation is 2π in total.
3Partial cycles
- Partial cycles a half oscillation corresponds to an angle of π, so ω = π/t for that time t
4Calculator
- Calculator it must be in radian mode when using ω
Part 5 of 9Displacement–time graphs
Amplitude
- Amplitude read it as the maximum height of the curve above the axis
Period
- Period read it as the horizontal distance between successive peaks or any two matching points
- Draw arrows from the top of one peak to the top of the next, not between a trough and a peak.
- Divide the total time by the number of cycles shown, so 3.5 cycles in 1.4 s gives T = 0.40 s.
Rest and fastest motion
- Rest and fastest motion the object is at rest at the peaks and troughs and fastest where the curve crosses the axis
Velocity
- Velocity it is the gradient of the displacement–time curve at that time
Other graphs
- Other graphs velocity and acceleration graphs have the same period as the displacement graph
Part 6 of 9Phase and phase difference
1Phase
- Phase it states which part of the cycle the object is in
2In phase
- In phase two oscillators in step have phase difference 0
3Antiphase
- Antiphase two oscillators exactly opposite have phase difference π rad (180°)
4Phase difference
- Phase difference if one oscillator reaches its maximum a time ∆t after the other, ∆φ = 2π∆t/T
- In degrees, ∆φ = 360° × ∆t/T.
5Condition
- Condition a phase difference is meaningful only for oscillations of the same frequency
Part 7 of 9Free and damped oscillations
Ideal oscillation
- Ideal oscillation with no energy loss it repeats indefinitely with constant amplitude
Damping
- Damping friction and air resistance remove energy, so the amplitude decreases
- Light damping leaves the period almost unchanged.
Driven oscillation
- Driven oscillation a clock pendulum is kept going by energy supplied from a mechanism
Part 8 of 9Measuring the period
Measuring the period
Time many complete oscillations with a stopwatch.
Divide the total time by the number of oscillations to find T.
Take f = 1/T.
1Why many cycles
- Why many cycles the timing error is shared over all cycles, so the percentage uncertainty in T is smaller
2Alternatives
- Alternatives a data logger or motion sensor can plot displacement against time directly
Part 9 of 9More from the specification
1Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) Definition
- In simple harmonic motion, an oscillating system experiences an acceleration directly proportional and opposite to displacement from equilibrium, governed by the defining equation a = -ω²·x.
2Displacement-Time Graph of an Oscillator
- A displacement-time graph for an SHM oscillator follows a sinusoidal curve (x = x₀ cos(ωt));
- the gradient at any point equals instantaneous velocity and reaches zero at maximum amplitude.
3Energy Interchange in Harmonic Oscillators
- In both a mass-spring system and a simple pendulum in a gravitational field, mechanical energy continually exchanges between kinetic and potential energy stores,
- where total energy is equal to ½·m·ω²·x₀².
4Simple pendulum
- A small bob on a light string of length L
5Gravitational potential
- Work done per unit mass in bringing a test mass from infinity to the point.
6Displacement-time graph
- A graph of displacement against time whose gradient is velocity.
7Velocity-time graph
- A graph of velocity against time whose gradient is acceleration and area is displacement.
8Harmonic
- Resonant mode of a stationary wave, with frequency a whole-number multiple of the fundamental where allowed.
9Kinetic energy
- K = ½mv2, energy of motion.
10Potential energy
- Energy stored by the configuration of a system.
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Equilibrium position | The position where the net force on the object is zero. |
| Displacement x | Distance from equilibrium in a given direction (vector). |
| Amplitude x₀ | Maximum displacement from equilibrium. |
| Time period T | Time for one complete oscillation. |
| Frequency f | Number of oscillations per second, f = 1/T. |
| Angular frequency ω | 2π/T, in radians per second. |
| Phase difference | Fraction of a cycle by which two oscillations are out of step, expressed as an angle. |
Avoid these mistakes
1
Taking the amplitude to be the peak-to-peak distance — it is measured from equilibrium.
2
Using the number of cycles shown on a graph instead of the time for one cycle when finding T.
3
Forgetting that f = 1/T and ω = 2πf differ by a factor of 2π.
4
Saying displacement is always positive — it is a vector measured from equilibrium.
5
Calculating a phase difference between oscillations with different frequencies.
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