Period Motion: Definition, Examples, Formula

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Periodic motion referred to the motion that repeats itself in a fixed interval. In our daily life, we have been faced with some repetitive and non-repetitive motions. Periodic motions are repetitive motions in which the body repeats its motion after a regular interval of time. Some examples of periodic motions are:

  • The motion of the planet around the sun
  • The motion of the moon around the earth
  • The motion of the bob of the simple pendulum

If the motion of the body is non-repetitive, then it is said to be a Non-periodic motion. In Non-periodic motion, the motion of the body does not repeat itself in fixed intervals of time. Some examples of non-periodic motions are:

  • Local wind patterns
  • Bouncing off the ball 
  • The motion of waves in a sea

Read Also: Wave Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation

Key Terms: Periodic motion, oscillatory motion, Simple Harmonic motion, Angular frequency, Time period, Harmonic oscillations, Amplitude, Phase.


Periodic Motion

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The body's motion is said to be periodic if it repeats itself after a regular interval of time. 

  • The orbital motion of the Earth around the sun, the motion of the arms of a clock, the motion of a simple pendulum, etc. are examples of Periodic Motion. 
  • The time taken by the body to complete one repetition or cycle is called its time period (T).
  • The number of the cycle completed by the body in one second is called its frequency (f).
  • The time period and frequency are reciprocal of each other.

Periodic Motion

Periodic Motion

Read More: Wave Optics


Types of Periodic Motion

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The various type of Periodic motions are:

  • Oscillatory Motion
  • Harmonic Oscillation
  • Simple Harmonic Motion

Oscillatory Motion

Oscillatory motion is a special type of periodic motion. If a body moves to and fro about a fixed point after regular intervals of time then the motion of the body is said to be oscillatory motion.

  • It is also called Vibratory motion.
  • The fixed about which the body moves to and fro in an oscillatory motion is known as the equilibrium position or mean position.
  • The maximum displacement of the body from its mean position is called amplitude.
  • Every oscillatory motion is a periodic motion, but every periodic motion is not oscillatory.
  • The motion of the planet around the sun is periodic but not oscillatory.
  • To and fro motion of a pendulum is oscillatory as well as periodic.

A periodic motion occurs to and fro or back and forth about a fixed point, which is known as oscillatory motion. Examples of oscillatory motion are the motion of a simple pendulum, the motion of a loaded spring, etc. Every oscillatory motion is periodic motion but every Periodic Motion is not Oscillatory Motion.

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Harmonic Oscillation

The oscillation which is expressed as a single harmonic function, in terms of sine or cosine function, is called harmonic oscillation.

Simple Harmonic Motion

The simplest form of oscillatory motion is known as Simple Harmonic Motion. A harmonic oscillation of constant amplitude and of a single frequency that restores force whose magnitude is proportional to the displacement and always moves towards the mean position is known as Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM).

A simple harmonic oscillation is expressed as a function of sine and cosine i.e

y = a sin ωt

or y = a cos ωt

Here

  • a is the maximum displacement or amplitude of oscillation.
  • ω is the angular frequency = 2πf = 2π/T
  • f is the frequency of the oscillation
  • T is the time period of the oscillation

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Some Terms which are Related to SHM are:

  • Time Period: It is the time taken by the body to complete one oscillation. It is denoted by T.
  • Frequency: Frequency is the number of oscillations completed by the body in one second. It is expressed as v.

Its SI unit of frequency is ‘hertz’ or ‘second-1‘.

Frequency = 1 / Time period

  • Angular Frequency: The angular frequency is the product of frequency with factor 2π. It is expressed as ω.

Angular frequency (ω) = 2πv

Its SI unit of frequency is ‘hertz’ or ‘second-1‘.

  • Displacement: It changes uniformly with time in a periodic motion. It is expressed as y.
  • Amplitude: The maximum displacement in any direction from the mean position is known as amplitude. It is expressed as a.
  • Phase: A phrase is a physical quantity that expresses the position and direction of motion of an oscillating particle. It is expressed as φ.

Non-harmonic Oscillation

A non-harmonic oscillation is known as the combination of two or more than two harmonic oscillations.

It is represented as y = a sin ωt + b sin 2ωt

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Important Formulae

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Some Important Formulae of SHM

  1. Displacement in SHM at any time is expressed as

y = a sin ωt or y = a cos ωt

Where

  • a is the maximum displacement or amplitude of oscillation.
  • ω is the angular frequency = 2πf = 2π/T
  • f is the frequency of the oscillation
  • T is the time period of the oscillation
  1. The velocity of a particle in SHM is expressed as

v = ω √(a2 – y2)

  • At the mean position y = 0 and v is maximum. So, the maximum velocity is expressed as vmax = aω
  • At the extreme positions, displacement is the same as magnitude. So, y = a and v is zero.
  1. Acceleration of a particle in SHM is expressed as

A or α = – ω2 y

  • A negative sign means the direction of acceleration is opposite to the direction in which displacement is towards the mean position.
  • At mean position y = 0 and acceleration is zero.
  • At extreme positions acceleration is maximum. So, Amax = – aω2
  1. The Time period in SHM is expressed as

T = 2π √Displacement / Acceleration

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Things to Remember

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  • The body's motion is said to be periodic if it repeats itself after a regular interval of time. 
  • In Non-periodic motion, the motion of the body does not repeat itself in fixed intervals of time.
  • If a body moves to and fro about a fixed point after regular intervals of time then the motion of the body is said to be oscillatory motion.
  • The fixed about which the body moves to and fro in an oscillatory motion is known as the equilibrium position or mean position.
  • The angular frequency is the product of frequency with factor 2π. It is expressed as ω.
  • Every oscillatory motion is a periodic motion, but every periodic motion is not oscillatory.

Sample Questions

Ques: Is the motion of a simple pendulum simple harmonic without any assumption? (2 marks)

Ans: The motion of the simple pendulum is not strictly harmonic because here we assume that the angle is small. So, sin∅ = ∅.

Ques: Give examples of SHM. (2 Marks)

Ans. Some practical examples of S. H. M. are:

  1. Motion of piston in a filled gas cylinder.
  2. Atoms vibrate in a crystal lattice.
  3. The motion of a spring.

Ques: What is the effect in the time period of periodic motion if the amplitude of the simple pendulum is increased? (1 mark)

Ans: If the amplitude of the simple pendulum is increased there is no effect on the time period of periodic motion.

Ques: Is there any difference between forced oscillation and resonance? (2 marks)

Ans: External frequency is not matched with the oscillation of the object. In the case of resonance external frequency is matched with the frequency of the object.

Ques: Is only acceleration and displacement sufficient for simple harmonic motion? (2 marks)

Ans: Acceleration and displacement are not sufficient, because the direction of acceleration is not mentioned. In SHM, the direction of acceleration is always opposite to that of displacement.

Ques: Water in a U-tube executes S.H.M. What will be the time period for a mercury-filled U-tube at the same height? (2 marks)

Ans: The time period of the liquid in a U-tube of simple harmonic motion does not depend upon the density of the liquid. So, the time period will be the same, for the mercury is filled in the U-tube.

Ques: How is the length of the second's pendulum related to the acceleration due to gravity? (1 mark)

Ans: The length of the second's pendulum is directly proportional to acceleration due to gravity.

Ques: Does the direction of acceleration at various points during the oscillation remain towards the mean position? (2 marks)

Ans: No, it is not always true. The resultant of Tension in the string and weight of the bob is not always towards the mean position.

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