Simple Harmonic Motion Simple harmonic motion (SHM) refers to a certain kind of oscillatory, or wave-like motion that describes the behavior of many physical phenomena: –a pendulum –a bob attached to a spring –low amplitude waves in air (sound), water, the ground –the electromagnetic field of laser light –vibration of a plucked guitar string –the electric current of most AC power supplies

SHM Position, Velocity, and Acceleration

Simple Harmonic Motion Periodic Motion: any motion of system which repeats itself at regular, equal intervals of time.

Simple Harmonic Motion

Equilibrium: the position at which no net force acts on the particle. Displacement: The distance of the particle from its equilibrium position. Usually denoted as x(t) with x=0 as the equilibrium position. Amplitude: the maximum value of the displacement with out regard to sign. Denoted as x max or A.

The period and frequency of a wave the period T of a wave is the amount of time it takes to go through 1 cycle the frequency f is the number of cycles per second –the unit of a cycle-per-second is commonly referred to as a hertz (Hz), after Heinrich Hertz ( ), who discovered radio waves. frequency and period are related as follows: Since a cycle is  radians, the relationship between frequency and angular frequency is:

Its position x as a function of time t is: where A is the amplitude of motion : the distance from the centre of motion to either extreme T is the period of motion: the time for one complete cycle of the motion. Here is a ball moving back and forth with simple harmonic motion (SHM):

Springs and SHM Attach an object of mass m to the end of a spring, pull it out to a distance A, and let it go from rest. The object will then undergo simple harmonic motion: What is the angular frequency in this case? –Use Newton’s 2nd law, together with Hooke’s law, and the above description of the acceleration to find:

Spring Constant, K The constant k is called the spring constant. SI unit of k = N/m.

HOOKE'S LAW The restoring force of an ideal spring is given by, where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement of the spring from its unstrained length. The minus sign indicates that the restoring force always points in a direction opposite to the displacement of the spring.

Simple Harmonic Motion When there is a restoring force, F = -kx, simple harmonic motion occurs.

Position VS. Time graph

Amplitude Amplitude is the magnitude of the maximum displacement.

Period, T For any object in simple harmonic motion, the time required to complete one cycle is the period T.

Frequency, f The frequency f of the simple harmonic motion is the number of cycles of the motion per second.

Oscillating Mass Consider a mass m attached to the end of a spring as shown. If the mass is pulled down and released, it will undergo simple harmonic motion. The period depends on the spring constant, k and the mass m, as given below,