PH 113: Oscillations and Waves (2022) Spring
Prof P. Ramadevi

Prerequisite

None

Course Content

Simple Harmonic motion, damped SHM, critical damping, Sustaining oscillations in a damped oscillator. Driven oscillation, resonance, damped-driven oscillator and its resonance, Q-factor, Vanderpol oscillator, non-linear feedback for sustained oscillations. SHM in 2-dim, dependence on initial conditions, Lissajous figures, condition for closed orbits, SHM in 3-dim. Oscillations of two particle systems, symmetric and asymmetric modes, general solution to the problem. Driven oscillations of two particle system. Oscillations of `n` particle systems, normal modes, Formulation of the general problem, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of normal modes, general solution for arbitrary initial conditions. Driven oscillations. Example of a linear triatomic molecule. Longitudinal and transverse oscillations, modding out the zero frequencies. Oscillations of a chain of `n` atoms. Continuum limit, vibrational modes of a string of constant density. Equation of Motion for waves, Standing waves and travelling waves in 1 dimensions. Properties of waves in two and three dimensions Harmonics, Linear superposition of harmonics, odd harmonics, construction of pulse shapes. Fourier components of a periodic pulse, Fourier analysis and Fourier coefficients. Fourier analysis of arbitrary functions, Fourier Coefficients.

Books

Berkeley Physics Course (Vol 3): Waves by Frank S. Crawford

Review by Gurupoorna

Lectures

Moderate level of difficulty. Since it was a half-semester course in just the 2nd semester, the professor did not involve too much mathematical jargon into it. There were weekly assignments including good questions, some of which were also discussed in tutorial classes, conducted by the professor herself. Requires a bit of practice in solving those questions. The course was very interesting and much rather beautiful.

Assignments, Exams and Grading

Two quizzes, a midsemester and an endsemester. The endsemester has a higher weightage than most theory courses. The exams contain all variety of questions, from easy to tricky. However, they do tend to be lengthy. Grading was average.

Tips

Moderate understanding of differential equations and linear algebra will guide better in concepts and lets you appreciate the subject. Resources that I used was Waves notes by David Morin.