Damped & Forced Oscillations, Resonance (CIE A Level Physics)

A bar magnet of mass 250 g is suspended from the free end of a spring, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

Fig. 3.1

The magnet hangs so that one pole is near the centre of a coil of wire.
The coil is connected in series with a resistor and a switch. The switch is open.

The magnet is displaced vertically and then allowed to oscillate.

At time t = 0, the magnet is oscillating freely. At time t = 6.0 s, the switch in the circuit is closed.

The variation with time t of the vertical displacement y of the magnet is shown in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 3.2

For the oscillating magnet, use data from Fig. 3.2 to determine, to two significant figures:

f = ...................................... Hz [2]

energy = ....................................... J [3]

When the switch is closed, the oscillations are damped.

Explain, with reference to Fig. 3.2, whether this damping is light, critical or heavy.

Fig. 1.1 shows a light pendulum and a heavy pendulum, both suspended from the same piece of copper wire. This copper wire is secured at each end to fixed points.

Both pendulums have the same natural frequency. 

The heavy pendulum is set to oscillate perpendicular to the plane of the diagram. As it oscillates, it causes the light pendulum to oscillate.  

State what is meant by resonance.

Fig. 1.2 shows the variation with time t of the displacements of the two pendulums for three oscillations. 

 

The variation with t of the displacement x of the light pendulum is given by

where x is in metres and t is in seconds.

Calculate the frequency, f of the oscillations.

On Fig. 1.2, label both axes with the correct scales. Use the space below for any additional working that you need. 

For an oscillating body, state what is meant by: 

State and explain one situation where resonance is useful.

In some situations, resonance should be avoided.
State one such situation and suggest how the effects of resonance are reduced.

A student investigates the vertical oscillations of the mass–spring system shown in Fig. 1.1. 

Fig. 1.1

The system is suspended from one end of a thread passing over a pulley. The other end of the thread is tied to a weight. The system is shown in Fig. 1.1 with the mass at the equilibrium position, denoted by the fiducial mark. The spring constant is the same for each spring. 

The table below shows the measurements recorded by the student over the course of 5 repeats of the experiment. 

Table 1.1

Determine the natural frequency of the mass-spring system and the percentage uncertainty in the data. Hence quote the natural frequency with its uncertainty to an appropriate number of significant figures.

The student connects the thread to a mechanical oscillator. The oscillator is set in motion using a signal generator and this causes the mass–spring system to undergo forced oscillations. 

A vertical ruler is set up alongside the mass–spring system as shown in Fig. 1.2. The student measures values of A, the amplitude of the oscillations of the mass as f, the frequency of the forcing oscillations, is varied. 

Fig. 1.2

At the point X, where the mass–spring system is joined to the thread, the amplitude of the oscillations is 4 mm. When the mass–spring system resonates at its natural frequency, amplitude of oscillation is 95 mm. 

On the axes provided, sketch the expected relationship between the amplitude and frequency of oscillation.

Fig. 1.3

The student removes one of the springs, adds more mass to the hanger and then repeats the experiment. 

Sketch a new line on your graph to show the results the student would obtain.

Give a value for the new frequency only, but the new amplitude does not need a specific value.

The relationship between frequency and spring constant can be described as:

A bar magnet is suspended on a spring as shown in Fig. 1.1. A pole of the magnet is located near to one end of a solenoid. 

Fig. 1.1

The observations made are summarised in Table 1.1. 

Table 1.1

Explain these observations.

Fig. 1.2 shows a long bar magnet suspended by a coiled spring from a rigid support along with the displacement-time graph of the resulting oscillations. 

Fig. 1.2

The amplitude of vertical oscillations of the magnet can be measured by observing the motion of a pointer attached to it as the pointer moves over a fixed vertical scale. 

The lower end of the magnet is now suspended in a cylinder of aluminium as shown in Fig. 1.3. This produces damping of the vertical oscillations. 

Fig. 1.3

(3)

(1)

In Fig. 1.4, a flat horizontal coil has been placed around the S pole of the long magnet and the damping cylinder removed.

A cross-section of this is shown and the direction of the current passing round the coil is represented with crosses and dots.

Fig. 1.4

When there is an alternating current in the coil, the magnet vibrates under forced oscillations. 

Explain how the magnet in Fig. 1.4 is made to perform forced oscillations.

The graph, Fig. 1.5, shows how the amplitude of the oscillations varies with f, frequency of the alternating current. 

Fig. 1.5