Simple Harmonic Motion

Simple Harmonic Motion

Any motion that repeats itself in a sinusoidal fashion

e.g. a mass on a spring

A mass that moves between +xm and -xm

with period T

Properties vary from a positive maximum to a
negative minimum

Position (x)

Velocity (v)

Acceleration (a)

The system undergoing simple harmonic motion
(SHM) is a simple harmonic oscillator (SHO)
SHM Snapshots
 Key Quantities

Frequency (f) -- number of complete
oscillations per unit time

Unit=hertz (Hz) = 1 oscillation per second = s-1

Period (T) -- time for one complete oscillation

T=1/f

Angular frequency (ω) -- ω = 2πf = 2π/T

Unit = radians per second (360 degrees = 2π
radians)

We use angular frequency because the
motion cycles
 Equation of Motion

What is the position (x) of the mass at time (t)?

The displacement from the origin of a particle
undergoing simple harmonic motion is:

x(t) = xmcos(ωt + φ)

Amplitude (xm) -- the maximum displacement
from the center

Phase angle (φ) -- offset due to not starting at
x=xm (“start” means t=0)

Remember that (ωt+φ) is in radians
SHM Formula Reference
 SHM in Action

Consider SHM with φ=0:

x = xmcos(ωt)

Remember ω=2π/T

t=0, ωt=0, cos (0) = 1

x=xm

t=1/2T, ωt=π, cos (π) = -1

x=-xm

t=T, ωt=2π, cos (2π) = 1

x=xm
 Phase

The phase of SHM is the quantity in
parentheses, i.e. cos(phase)

The difference in phase between 2 SHM
curves indicates how far out of phase
the motion is

The difference/2π is the offset as a
fraction of one period

Example: SHO’s φ=π & φ=0 are offset 1/2
period

They are phase shifted by 1/2 period
Amplitude, Period and Phase
 Velocity

If we differentiate the equation for
displacement w.r.t. time, we get velocity:

v(t)=-ωxmsin(ωt + φ)

Why is velocity negative?

Since the particle moves from +xm to -xm the
velocity must be negative (and then positive in the
other direction)

Velocity is proportional to ω

High frequency (many cycles per second) means
larger velocity
 Acceleration

If we differentiate the equation for
velocity w.r.t. time, we get acceleration

a(t)=-ω2xmcos(ωt + φ)

This equation is similar to the equation
for displacement

Making a substitution yields:

a(t)=-ω2x(t)
 x, v and a

Consider SMH with φ=0:

x = xmcos(ωt)

v = -ωxmsin(ωt) = -vmsin(ωt)

a = -ω2xmcos(ωt) = -amcos(ωt)

When displacement is greatest
(cos(ωt)=1), velocity is zero and
acceleration is maximum

Mass is momentarily at rest, but
being pulled hard in the other
direction

When displacement is zero
(cos(ωt)=0), velocity is
maximum and acceleration is
zero

Mass coasts through the middle at
high speed
 Force

Remember that: a=-ω2x

But, F=ma so,

F=-mω2x

Since m and ω are constant we can write the
expression for force as:

F=-kx

Where k=mω2 is the spring constant

This is Hooke’s Law

Simple harmonic motion is motion where
force is proportional to displacement but
opposite in sign

Why is the sign negative?
 Linear Oscillator

A simple 1-dimensional SHM system is
called a linear oscillator

Example: a mass on a spring

In such a system, k=mω2

We can thus find the angular frequency
and the period as a function of m and k

k m
ω= T=2π
m k
Linear Oscillator
 Application of the Linear
Oscillator: Mass in Free Fall

A normal spring scale does not work in
the absence of gravity

However, for a linear oscillator the
mass depends only on the period and
the spring constant:
T=2π(m/k)0.5
m/k=(T/2π)2
m=T2k/4π2
 SHM and Energy

A linear oscillator has a total energy E,
which is the sum of the potential and
kinetic energies (E=U+K)

U and K change as the mass oscillates

As one increases the other decreases

Energy must be conserved
SHM Energy Conservation
 Potential Energy

Potential energy is the integral of force

U=− ∫Fdx=− ∫−kxdx=1kx 2

2

From our expression for x
U=½kxm2cos2(ω ωt+φ φ)
 Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy depends on the velocity,

K=½mv2 = ½mω2xm2 sin2(ωt+φ)

Since ω2=k/m,

K = ½kxm2 sin2(ω
ωt+φφ)

The total energy E=U+K which will
give:
E= ½kxm2