Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / iii / Paper 74 / 2 / a

Introduce the slow time $T=\epsilon t$ and treat $t,T$ independently in the method of multiple scales. WriteAt the next order,For fixed $R$ define the period average byHere $f$ inside the averages is evaluated at the leading position and velocity $R\cos \varphi ,-R\sin \varphi$. Orthogonality to both fundamental harmonics is the solvability condition in the method of multiple scales: it removes the resonant forcing that would otherwise generate a secular term. Since the squared sine and cosine averages are $1/2$, the amplitude-phase equations areEquivalently $\dot{R}=-\epsilon ⟨f\sin (t+\theta )⟩$ and $\dot{\theta }=-\epsilon ⟨f\cos (t+\theta )⟩/R$ at first order. These equations describe a bounded, weakly perturbed oscillation over $t=O({\epsilon }^{-1})$ while the amplitude remains in a range where the expansion is ordered. At zero amplitude the oscillation phase coordinate is singular; Cartesian harmonic coefficients or an equilibrium analysis should replace it.

For conservative forcing in averaged oscillator equations, $f=f(y)$, the average determining $R_T$ vanishes. If $F^{\prime }=f$, thenwhose period average is zero. Thus $R=R_0$ to this order, while a position-dependent force generally shifts the oscillation phase and frequency. The exact equation also conserves the energy $\frac{1}{2}{\dot{y}}^2+\frac{1}{2}{y}^2-\epsilon F(y)$, consistent with the absence of amplitude drift for bounded orbits.

For the cubic position force, $⟨f\cos \varphi ⟩=R^3⟨{\cos }^4\varphi ⟩=3R^3/8$. ThereforeThe leading oscillation is $R_0\cos [(1-3\epsilon R_0^2/8)t+{\theta }_0]$. For positive $\epsilon$ it is a softening cubic oscillator, obtained by weakly perturbing a harmonic oscillator. The weak-force condition is $\epsilon R_0^2\ll 1$; the constant $R$ is the leading harmonic amplitude, not a claim that the exact waveform remains sinusoidal.

For velocity-only forcing in averaged oscillator equations, $f=f(\dot{y})$, the oscillation phase average vanishes: $f(-R\sin \varphi )\cos \varphi$ is a periodic total derivative, using an antiderivative of $f$. Hence ${\theta }_T=0$ to first order, although the amplitude may change.

In the cubic case, $f=-R^3{\sin }^3\varphi$, soWith $R(0)=R_0>0$, integration givesFor positive $\epsilon$ this is cubic velocity anti-damping, not damping: the exact energy derivative is $d({\dot{y}}^2+y^2)/(2dt)=\epsilon {\dot{y}}^4\ge 0$. The slow solution grows and formally diverges at $T=4/(3R_0^2)$. The weakly nonlinear approximation loses validity before its amplitude becomes so large that $\epsilon R^2$ is not small; its divergence is not a controlled prediction of the exact late-time solution. If $R_0=0$, the exact zero solution should be used separately.