Homework Set #5: sinusoidally-driven damped harmonic oscillator exercises

 

U-choose the damping and initial v:

U-drive: choose F0 and w:

 b = Note: keep b positive

 F0  = Note: keep |F|<6

 v0 = Note: keep |v|<12

 w = Note: keep w<5

(When you change any value, be sure to press the set button to activate your choice.)

Experiment with the system above by doing the following exercises (derived from the text, problems 24 and  25):

  1. Observe the motion for b = 0.2 and varying frequency w.  Take the necessary measurements to plot resonance and phase curves for the oscillator (see Figure 3-16 in the text).

  2. Observe the motion for b = 2 and varying frequency w.  Take measurements and plot resonance and phase curves for the oscillator.

  3. Can you think of a qualitative (not mathematical) reason why the system starts with a large natural component and why this component dies out over time? Why does this attenuation process depend on the damping constant? Why is motion at the drive frequency sustained at long times?

 

This Physlet was written by Tim Gfroerer and scripted by Mario Belloni.