PERIODIC MOTION

After today’s discussion, you should be able to:

(1) describe oscillations in terms of

amplitude, period, frequency, and
angular frequency.

[Young and Freedman]

We define our coordinate system
such that the origin O is at the
equilibrium position.

x is the x-component of the

displacement of the body from
equilibrium. It is also the change
in length of the spring.

Fx is the x-component of the force

that the spring exerts on the body.

Fx
ax =
m

[Young and Freedman]

 The spring force tends to restore
the mass to equilibrium.

Restoring force

Oscillation can occur only when

x=A there is a restoring force tending
to return the system to
equilibrium.

[Young and Freedman]

 Amplitude, A

➤ Maximum magnitude of
displacement from equilibrium
➤ Always positive
For an ideal spring, the total
v⃗
➤

overall range is 2A.

SI Unit: Meter, m

x =−A [Young and Freedman]

 Full cycle, +A → − A → + A

+A

−A
}
Half cycle, +A → − A
Period, T

➤ Time for one cycle

SI Unit: Seconds, s (or seconds per cycle)

Frequency, f Angular frequency, ω

➤ Number of cycles per unit time ➤ Rate of change of an angular

quantity
1 2π
f= ω = 2πf =
T T
SI Unit: Hertz, Hz (or cycles per second)
SI Unit: Radians per second, rad/s
HARMONIC OSCILLATOR
A body that undergoes simple harmonic motion (SHM)

When the restoring force is directly

proportional to the displacement
from equilibrium

Restoring force of
Fx = − kx
an ideal spring
k
Acceleration: ax = − x
m
Angular k
frequency: ω=
m
[Young and Freedman]
HARMONIC OSCILLATOR
A body that undergoes simple harmonic motion (SHM)

Displacement x = A cos(ωt + ϕ)

Amplitude Phase
angle
Angular
frequency

k
ω=
m

[Young and Freedman]

HARMONIC OSCILLATOR
A body that undergoes simple harmonic motion (SHM)

Displacement x = A cos(ωt + ϕ)

Amplitude Phase
angle
Angular
frequency

k
ω=
m

[Young and Freedman]

HARMONIC OSCILLATOR
A body that undergoes simple harmonic motion (SHM)

Displacement x = A cos(ωt + ϕ)

Amplitude Phase
angle
Angular
frequency

k
ω=
m

[Young and Freedman]

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Displacement
x = A cos(ωt + ϕ)
Velocity

dx
v= = − ωA sin(ωt + ϕ)
dt
Acceleration

dv
a= = − ω 2 A cos(ωt + ϕ)
dt

[Young and Freedman]

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Displacement
x = A cos(ωt + ϕ)
Velocity

dx
v= = − ωA sin(ωt + ϕ)
dt
Acceleration

dv
a= = − ω 2 A cos(ωt + ϕ)
dt

[Young and Freedman]

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
Total Mechanical Energy

1 2 1 2 1 2
E = mvx + kx = kA =  constant
2 2 2

[Young and Freedman]

EXAMPLES
Vertical SHM

[Young and Freedman]

EXAMPLES
Angular SHM

κ Torsion constant
ω=
I Moment of Inertia

[Young and Freedman]

EXAMPLES
Vibration of atoms
When two atoms are separated from each other by a few
atomic diameters, they can exert attractive forces on each
other.
But if the atoms are so close to each other that their
electron shells overlap, the forces between the atoms are
repulsive.
Between these limits, there can be an equilibrium
separation distance at which two atoms form a molecule.
If these atoms are displaced slightly from equilibrium,
they will oscillate.

[Young and Freedman]