Question

An air chamber of volume V has a neck area of cross section a into which a ball of mass m just fits and can move up and down without any friction (Fig.14.33). Show that when the ball is pressed down a little and released, it executes SHM. Obtain an expression for the time period of oscillations assuming pressure-volume variations of air to be isothermal [see Fig. 14.33].

Answer 1

Volume of the air chamber = V

Area of cross-section of the neck = a

Mass of the ball = m

The pressure inside the chamber is equal to the atmospheric pressure.

Let the ball be depressed by x units. As a result of this depression, there would be a decrease in the volume and an increase in the pressure inside the chamber.

Decrease in the volume of the air chamber, ΔV = ax

Volumetric strain

Bulk Modulus of air,

In this case, stress is the increase in pressure. The negative sign indicates that pressure increases with a decrease in volume.

The restoring force acting on the ball,

F = p × a

In simple harmonic motion, the equation for restoring force is:

F = –kx … (ii)

Where, k is the spring constant

Comparing equations (i) and (ii), we get:

Time period,