- Free oscillations occur when a body vibrates on its own at its natural frequency.
- Forced oscillations occur when an external periodic force makes the body vibrate at the driving frequency.
- Resonance occurs when the driving frequency equals the natural frequency.
- At resonance, amplitude and energy transfer are maximum.
Definitions [21]
Define the term oscillation.
Oscillation refers to a complete 'to and fro' motion of the body along its course.
Define linear simple harmonic motion.
Linear simple harmonic motion (S.H.M.) is defined as the linear periodic motion of a body, in which the restoring force (or acceleration) is always directed towards the mean position and its magnitude is directly proportional to the displacement from the mean position.
Define linear S.H.M.
Linear S.H.M. is defined as the linear periodic motion of a body in which the restoring force (or acceleration) is always directed towards its mean position and its magnitude is directly proportional to the displacement from the mean position.
Consider a particle ‘P’ moving along the circumference of a circle of radius 'a' and centre O, with uniform angular speed of 'ω' in anticlockwise direction as shown.
Particle P along the circumference of the circle has its projection particle on diameter AB at point M.

Define second’s pendulum.
A simple pendulum whose period of oscillation is exactly two seconds is called a second’s pendulum.
Period (T) = `2 pi sqrt(L/g)`
Define an ideal simple pendulum.
An ideal simple pendulum consists a point mass suspended from a perfectly rigid support by weightless, inextensible and perfectly flexible fibre.
An ideal simple pendulum is a heavy particle suspended by a massless, inextensible, flexible string from a rigid support.
Definition: Periodic Motion
Any motion which repeats itself after a definite interval of time is called periodic motion.
Definition: Periodic Time
A body performing periodic motion goes on repeating the same set of movements. The time taken for one such set of movements is called its period or periodic time.
Definition: Simple Harmonic Motion
Simple harmonic motion is an oscillatory motion in which the restoring force (or acceleration) is directly proportional to the displacement from the equilibrium position and is directed towards it.
Definition: Oscillatory or Vibratory Motion
Another type of periodic motion in which a particle repeatedly moves to and fro along the same path is the oscillatory or vibratory motion.
Definition: Linear Simple Harmonic Motion
Linear S.HM. is defined as the linear periodic motion of a body, in which force (or acceleration) is always directed towards the mean position and its magnitude is proportional to the displacement from the mean position.
Definition: Period of Oscillation
The smallest interval of time after which the to and fro motion is repeated is called its period (T).
Definition: Frequency of Periodic Motion
The number of oscillations completed per unit time is called the frequency (n) of the periodic motion.
Definition: Amplitude of S.H.M
The maximum displacement of a particle performing S.H.M from its mean position is called the amplitude of S.H.M.
Definition: Period. of S.H.M.
The time taken by the particle performing S.H.M. to complete one oscillation is called the period of S.H.M.
Mathematically,
T = 2π\[\sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\]
Definition: Frequency of S.H.M.
The number of oscillations performed by a particle performing S.H.M. per unit time is called the frequency of S.H.M.
Mathematically,
n = \[\frac {1}{T}\] = \[\frac {ω}{2π}\] = \[\frac{1}{2\pi}\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\]
Definition: Phase in S.H.M.
Phase in S.H.M. is the angular quantity θ = (ωt + ϕ) which specifies the state of oscillation of a particle at a given instant.
Definition: Ideal Simple Pendulum
An ideal simple pendulum consists of a point mass suspended by a massless, inextensible, and perfectly flexible string from a fixed rigid support.
Definition: Length of a Simple Pendulum
The distance between the point of suspension and the centre of gravity of the bob is called the length of the pendulum.
Definition: Second's Pendulum
A simple pendulum whose period is two seconds is called a second's pendulum.
Definition: Angular S.H.M
Angular S.H.M is defined as the oscillatory motion of a body in which the torque for angular acceleration is directly proportional to the angular displacement and its direction is opposite to that of angular displacement.
Definition: Damped Harmonic Oscillator.
Periodic oscillations of gradually decreasing amplitude are called damped harmonic oscillations, and the oscillator is called a damped harmonic oscillator.
Formulae [3]
Formula: Simple Harmonic Motion
\[\frac{d^2x}{dt^2}+\omega^2x=0\] ⇒ x = ±A cos(ωt)
Formula: Time Period of Angular S.H.M
T = \[\frac {2π}{ω}\] = \[\frac {2\pi}{\sqrt{\text {angular acceleration per unit angular displacement}}}\]
Formula: Time Period of a Magnetic Dipole
T = \[2\pi\sqrt{\frac{I}{\mu B}}\]
Key Points
Key Points: Free and Forced Oscillations with Resonance
Key Points: Reference Circle Method
Key Points: Graphical Representation of S.H.M.
- In S.H.M., displacement, velocity, and acceleration change with time in sine or cosine form.
- Velocity is \[\frac {π}{2}\] ahead of displacement, and acceleration is opposite to displacement.
- Starting from the mean position → sine curve; starting from the extreme position → cosine curve.
Key Points: Energy of a Particle Performing S.H.M.
- Total mechanical energy in S.H.M. is constant and equals
E = \[\frac {1}{2}\]kA2. - At the mean position, K.E. is maximum, and P.E. is zero.
At extreme position: P.E. is maximum, and K.E. is zero. - During motion, energy continuously converts between kinetic and potential, but total energy remains conserved.
Key Points: Simple Pendulum
- For a small angular displacement, the restoring force of a simple pendulum is
F = −\[\frac {mg}{L}\]x,
hence the motion is simple harmonic. - The time period of a simple pendulum is
T = \[2\pi\sqrt{\frac{L}{g}},\]
which is valid only for small oscillations. - The period is directly proportional to \[\sqrt {L}\], inversely proportional to \[\sqrt{g}\], and is independent of mass and amplitude (for small angles).
Important Questions [29]
- Obtain the expression for the period of a magnet vibrating in a uniform magnetic field and performing S.H.M.
- The displacement of a particle performing simple harmonic motion is 13 rd of its amplitude. What fraction of total energy will be its kinetic energy?
- Define linear simple harmonic motion.
- Show that a linear S.H.M. is the projection of a U.C.M. along any of its diameter.
- Define linear S.H.M.
- Obtain the differential equation of linear simple harmonic motion.
- From Differential Equation of Linear S.H.M., Obtain an Expression for Acceleration, Velocity and Displacement of a Particle Performing S.H.M.
- A Particle Performing Linear S.H.M. Has a Period of 6.28 Seconds and a Pathlength of 20 cm. What is the Velocity When Its Displacement is 6 cm from Mean Position?
- The Maximum Velocity of a Particle Performing Linear S.H.M. is 0.16 m/s. If Its Maximum Acceleration is 0.64 m/s^2, Calculate Its Period.
- Two Particles Perform Linear Simple. Harmonic Motion Along the Same Path of Length 2a and Period T as Shown In the Graph Below. the Phase Difference Between Them is
- A Particle Executing Linear S.H.M. Has Velocities V1 and V2 at Distances X1 and X2 Respectively from the Mean Position. the Angular Velocity of the Particle is
- A Particle Performing Linear S.H.M. Has the Maximum Velocity of 25 Cm/S and Maximum Acceleration of 100 Cm/ M2. Find the Amplitude and Period of Oscillation.
- A particle performing Linear S.H.M. has a maximum velocity 25 cm/sand maximum acceleration 100 cm/s2. Find the period of oscillations.
- Calculate the velocity of a particle performing S.H.M. after 1 second, if its displacement is given by x = 5sin(πt3)m.
- Answer in brief. Using differential equations of linear S.H.M, obtain the expression for (a) velocity in S.H.M., (b) acceleration in S.H.M.
- The velocity of bob of a second’s pendulum when it is 6 cm from its mean position and amplitude of 10 cm, is ______.
- Define an ideal simple pendulum.
- Obtain the expression for the period of a simple pendulum performing S.H.M.
- Define second's pendulum.
- Derive a formula for the length of second's pendulum.
- A bar magnet of mass 120 g in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, has dimensions l = 40 mm, b = 10 mm and h = 80 mm, with its dimension ‘h’ vertical, the magnet performs angular oscillations
- Write the differential equation for angular S.H.M
- A 0.1 H inductor a 25 × 10-6 F capacitor and a 15 Ω resistor are connected in series to a 120 V, 50 Hz AC source. Calculate the resonant frequency.
- Derive an Expression for the Period of Motion of a Simple Pendulum. On Which Factors Does It Depend?
- A copper metal cube has each side of length 1 m. The bottom edge of the cube is fixed and tangential force 4.2x10^8 N is applied to a top surface.
- A Body of Mass 1 Kg is Mafe to Oscillate on a Spring of Force Constant 16 N/M. Calculate (A) Angular Frequency, (B) Frequency of Vibrations.
- The Length of the Second’S Pendulum in a Clock is Increased to 4 Times Its Initial Length. Calculate the Number of Oscillations Completed by the New Pendulum in One Minute.
- The Periodic Time of a Linear Harmonic Oscillator is 2π Second, with Maximum Displacement of 1 Cm.
- What is the Periodic Time (T) of that Pendulum Which is Suspended in an Elevator Moving with Constant Speed in Downward Direction
Concepts [17]
- Oscillations
- Explanation of Periodic Motion
- Linear Simple Harmonic Motion (S.H.M.)
- Differential Equation of Linear S.H.M.
- Acceleration (a), Velocity (v) and Displacement (x) of S.H.M.
- Amplitude (A), Period (T) and Frequency (N) of S.H.M.
- Reference Circle Method
- Phase in S.H.M.
- Graphical Representation of S.H.M.
- Composition of Two S.H.M.’S Having Same Period and Along Same Line
- The Energy of a Particle Performing S.H.M.
- Simple Pendulum
- Angular S.H.M. and It's Differential Equation
- Damped Oscillations
- Free Oscillations, Forced Oscillations and Resonance Oscillations
- Periodic and Oscillatory Motion
- Overview: Oscillations
