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Homework Statement
An Oscillator with free oscillation period [tex]\tau[/tex] is critically damped and subjected to a periodic force with the 'saw-tooth' form:
[tex]F(t)=c(t-n\tau)[/tex] , [tex](n-1/2)\tau<t<(n+1/2)\tau[/tex]
for integer n with c constant. Find the ratios of the amplitudes of oscillations at the angular frequencies:
[tex]\frac{2\pi n}{\tau}[/tex]
Homework Equations
Basically for the critically damped thing, we have that
[tex]\gamma = \omega_0[/tex].
the other formulas are just the ones used with oscillator under forces. (i.e. driven and damped oscillators.)
The Attempt at a Solution
Okay, so first I took the Fourier series (or at least tried to) of the force that is driving the oscillator:
[tex]F_n=1/\tau \int_{-\frac{\tau}{2}}^{\frac{\tau}{2}} c(t-n\tau)e^{(inwt)}dt[/tex]
then, what I did was to plug the
[tex]\frac{2\pi n}{\tau}[/tex]
into the omega above.
Then I got,
[tex]F_n= \frac{c\tau}{i2\pi n^2}[/tex]
According to this, now my equation of motion (ordinary linear differential non-homogeneous eq.form) is:
[tex]mz'' +\lambda z' + kz = \frac{c\tau}{i2\pi n^2} e^{(i\omega t)}[/tex]
where I use here z just because the complex force. Also, note that
[tex]\omega_0^2 = k/m[/tex]
and,
[tex]\gamma=\lambda/2m[/tex]
Trouble now is that I would need a general solution for that, and I don't really know if it's the good way to think, if I assume that the equation of motion will look like this:
[tex]x(t)= Ae^{(i\omega t)}[/tex]
with A being,
[tex]A= \frac{F_n/m}{\sqrt((\omega_0^2-\omega^2)^2+(2\gamma\omega)^2)}[/tex]
And if that is the case, is really the A what the question is asking for? Because they ask for the ratio of amplitudes, and that's just the amplitude.. Not quite sure.
I haven't tried plugging my F_n and other values because I don't think it will give me any substantial result, and I assume I must have done something wrong behind.
(I know that the answer should be:
[tex]a_n= c/m\omega^2 n(1+n^2).[/tex]
according to Kibble.)
If you could spot what am I missing in my assumptions I would much appreciate.
P.S.: I always seem to have problems when previewing the post... as it seems now, none of my latex scripts are well written (according to the preview post), but I am pretty sure that they are... just that the preview is acting weirdly. So if there are flaws in my latex I will try to fix it asap.
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