Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 14 - Oscillations - Exercises and Problems - Page 406: 71

Answer

$\approx 236\;\rm oscillations$

Work Step by Step

To find the number of oscillations when the amplitude is 30% of the initial amplitude $0.3A$, we need to find the period of one oscillation, the time constant, and the time it takes to reach this small amplitude. We know, for a damping oscillation, that $$A_{(t)}=Ae^{-t/2\tau}$$ At $t=50$ s, the amplitude is $0.6A$, so $$0.6\color{red}{\bf\not} A=\color{red}{\bf\not} Ae^{-50/2\tau}$$ So that $$\dfrac{-50}{2\tau}=\ln(0.6)$$ And hence the time constant is $$ \tau=\dfrac{-50}{2\ln(0.6)}=\bf 48.94\;\rm s\tag 1$$ The time it takes to reach $0.3A$, $t_1$ $$0.3\color{red}{\bf\not} A=\color{red}{\bf\not} Ae^{-t_1/2 (48.94)}$$ Hence, $$\dfrac{-t_1}{2(48.94)}=\ln(0.3)$$ $$t_1=-2(48.94)\ln(0.3)=\bf 117.845\;\rm s\tag 2$$ The number of oscillations is given by $$N=\dfrac{t_1}{T}$$ where $T=1/f$, so $$N=t_1f$$ Plugging from (2) and plugging the known; $$N=(117.845)(2)=235.69\;\rm oscillations $$ Therefore, $$N\approx\color{red}{\bf 236}\;\rm oscillations$$
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