PERIODIC MOTION I

Intended Learning Outcomes – after this lecture you will learn:

1. definition of simple harmonic motion
2. relation between uniform circular motion and simple harmonic motion
3. description of simple harmonic motion in terms of phasor diagram
4. kinetic, potential, and total energy in simple harmonic motion
Textbook Reference: Ch 14.1 – 14.3

Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

Simplest example: a spring and mass system

Hooke’s law: 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = −𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

displacement (+/-)
restoring force from equilibrium
point

𝑑𝑑2 𝑥𝑥 𝑘𝑘
Newton’s law 𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 = = − 𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝑡𝑡 2 𝑚𝑚

a differential equation of the form

𝑥𝑥̈ = −𝛼𝛼𝛼𝛼, 𝛼𝛼 > 0, called simple
harmonic motion (SHM)

A system executing simple harmonic motion is called

a harmonic oscillator

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 1

 How to solve the differential equation? Consider a particle Q
executing uniform circular motion with angular speed 𝜔𝜔 and
radius A. P is its projection along x axis.
position of P: 𝑥𝑥 = 𝐴𝐴 cos 𝜃𝜃
velocity of P: 𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥 = −𝑣𝑣𝑄𝑄 sin 𝜃𝜃
acceleration of P: 𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 = −𝑎𝑎𝑄𝑄 cos 𝜃𝜃
= −(𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴) cos 𝜃𝜃
= −𝜔𝜔2 𝑥𝑥 c.f. 𝑎𝑎 = −(𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚)𝑥𝑥
Conclusion: a harmonic oscillator is the same as a particle in
uniform circular motion with 𝜔𝜔 = �𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚 projected along the
x direction
frequency 𝑓𝑓 = number of cycles per unit time

𝜔𝜔 1 𝑘𝑘
𝑓𝑓 = = �
2𝜋𝜋 2𝜋𝜋 𝑚𝑚
period 𝑇𝑇 = time for one complete cycle
1 2𝜋𝜋 𝑚𝑚
𝑇𝑇 = = = 2𝜋𝜋�
𝑓𝑓 𝜔𝜔 𝑘𝑘
angular frequency 𝜔𝜔 = angle (in radian) per unit time
𝜔𝜔 = 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋

General solution: 𝑥𝑥 = 𝐴𝐴 cos 𝜃𝜃(𝑡𝑡) = 𝐴𝐴 cos(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙), where the phase angle 𝜙𝜙 = 𝜃𝜃(0)
A is the amplitude (maximum displacement) of the oscillation
𝜙𝜙 = 0, i.e., 𝜙𝜙 = 𝜋𝜋/4, i.e., 𝜙𝜙 = 𝜋𝜋/2, i.e.,
𝜋𝜋 𝜋𝜋
𝜃𝜃(𝑡𝑡) = 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝜃𝜃(𝑡𝑡) = 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 4 𝜃𝜃(𝑡𝑡) = 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 2

phasor diagram
𝜃𝜃

0 displacement-time
graph

𝑇𝑇/2 effect of phase

angle is to push
𝑇𝑇 displacement-time
graph along – 𝑡𝑡 by
𝜙𝜙/𝜔𝜔
t t t

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 2

 velocity 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝜋𝜋
𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥 = = −𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 sin(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙) = 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 cos �𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙 + 2 � , 𝑣𝑣𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
acceleration 𝑑𝑑 2 𝑥𝑥
𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 = 2 = −𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴 cos(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙) = 𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴 cos(𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙 + 𝜋𝜋) , 𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴
𝑑𝑑𝑡𝑡
see Appendix I about changing from sine to cosine function.
How to find 𝐴𝐴 and 𝜙𝜙? If given initial condition 𝑥𝑥(0) = 𝑥𝑥0 , 𝑣𝑣(0) = 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥
𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥
tan−1 �− �, if 𝑥𝑥0 > 0
𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 −𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 sin 𝜙𝜙 𝜔𝜔𝑥𝑥0
= = −𝜔𝜔 tan 𝜙𝜙 ⟹ 𝜙𝜙 = � 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥0 𝐴𝐴 cos 𝜙𝜙 tan−1 �− � + 𝜋𝜋, if 𝑥𝑥0 < 0
𝜔𝜔𝑥𝑥0

see Appendix II

2 2
𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥02 + = 𝐴𝐴2 (cos2 𝜙𝜙 + sin2 𝜙𝜙) = 𝐴𝐴2 ⟹ 𝐴𝐴 = �𝑥𝑥02 +
𝜔𝜔 2 𝜔𝜔 2

𝑥𝑥 pushed
towards – 𝑡𝑡
𝜋𝜋 𝑇𝑇
by , i.e.,
2 4

𝑥𝑥 pushed
towards – 𝑡𝑡
𝑇𝑇
by 𝜋𝜋, i.e., 2

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 3

Question
Suppose the glider in the above diagram is moved to x = 0.10 m and is released from rest at t = 0,
then A = ____ m and 𝜙𝜙 = ____ .
Suppose instead the glider in the above diagram at t = 0 is at x = 0.10 m and is moving to the
right, then A is (> / < / = ) 0.10 m and 𝜙𝜙 is (> / < / = ) 0.
Answer: see inverted text on P. 466

Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

1 1 1 1 1
𝐸𝐸 = 2𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥2 + 2𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 2 = 2𝑚𝑚𝜔𝜔2 𝐴𝐴2 sin2 (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙) + 2𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴2 cos 2 (𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 + 𝜙𝜙) = 2𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴2
Conservation of energy! To find velocity:

1 1 1 𝑘𝑘
𝐸𝐸 = 2𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥2 + 2𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 2 = 2𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴2 ⇒ 𝑣𝑣𝑥𝑥 = ±�𝑚𝑚 √𝐴𝐴2 − 𝑥𝑥 2

both U and K are quadratic (i.e.,

parabolic), and they add up to a
constant 𝐸𝐸 = 12𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴2

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 4

Question
To double the total energy of a spring and mass system oscillating in SHM, one should increase
the amplitude by a factor of ___. As a result of this amplitude change, the frequency of the
oscillator will (be larger / be smaller / have no change).
Answer: see inverted text on P. 469 of textbook

Example 14.5 P. 469 Energy and momentum in SHM

Given: an oscillator with amplitude 𝐴𝐴1
When it is at x = 0, a putty of mass m hits, and then
stays on the block after collision

During the collision:

y component of momentum (is / is not) conserved
x component of momentum (is / is not) conserved

New velocity at x = 0:
𝑀𝑀
𝑀𝑀𝑣𝑣1 + 0 = 𝑀𝑀𝑣𝑣2 + 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣2 ⇒ 𝑣𝑣2 = 𝑣𝑣
𝑀𝑀 + 𝑚𝑚 1
New amplitude:

1 1 𝑀𝑀 1 𝑀𝑀 1 𝑀𝑀
𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴22 = 2(𝑀𝑀 + 𝑚𝑚)𝑣𝑣22 = � � 2𝑀𝑀𝑣𝑣12 = � � 2𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴12 ⇒ 𝐴𝐴2 = 𝐴𝐴1 �
2 𝑀𝑀 + 𝑚𝑚 𝑀𝑀 + 𝑚𝑚 𝑀𝑀 + 𝑚𝑚

𝐸𝐸 in terms of 𝐾𝐾 right after collision

amplitude after
collision

Total energy of the oscillator (increase / decrease). Where does the energy go?

Suppose the putty hits when the block is at 𝑥𝑥 = 𝐴𝐴1

No change in horizontal velocity (why?)
No change in K (why?)
Does the total energy of the oscillator change? Why?
Is the energy of the system (oscillator + putty)
conserved? Why?

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 5

Appendix I Summary of trigonometrical relations
𝜋𝜋
In this Chapter we have used the relations cos �𝜃𝜃 ± 2 � = ∓ sin 𝜃𝜃
𝜋𝜋
If two angles 𝜙𝜙1 and 𝜙𝜙2 differ by 2 , then sin and cos interchanged: |sin 𝜙𝜙1 | = |cos 𝜙𝜙2 |, the sign
is determined by the following rule for trigonometric function in different quadrants:
𝜋𝜋⁄2

S A
sin is +ve all are +ve
𝜋𝜋 0
tan is +ve cos is +ve

T C
3𝜋𝜋⁄2
𝜋𝜋
𝜃𝜃 + 2 in second quadrant, cos
is -ve, therefore
𝜋𝜋
cos �𝜃𝜃 + 2 � = − sin 𝜃𝜃
𝜋𝜋⁄2

𝜋𝜋 𝜃𝜃 is in first quadrant,
𝜃𝜃 + 2
sin is +ve
𝜃𝜃
𝜋𝜋 0
𝜋𝜋
𝜃𝜃 − 2
𝜋𝜋
𝜃𝜃 − 2 in fourth quadrant, cos is
+ve, therefore
3𝜋𝜋⁄2 𝜋𝜋
cos �𝜃𝜃 − 2 � = sin 𝜃𝜃

Likewise, sin(𝜃𝜃 ± 𝜋𝜋2) = ± cos 𝜃𝜃

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 6

 For students with more advanced mathematics background only. Others may ignore
this part.

Appendix II 𝜋𝜋/2
The formula 𝜙𝜙 = tan−1(− 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 ⁄𝜔𝜔𝑥𝑥0 ) does not always give
the correct answer. One needs to determine 𝜙𝜙 in the correct
quadrant through the conditions
S A
sin is +ve all are +ve
sin 𝜙𝜙 = − 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 ⁄𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔 𝜋𝜋 0
cos 𝜙𝜙 = 𝑥𝑥0 /𝐴𝐴 tan is +ve cos is +ve

But you can easily convince yourself that the general formula T C
𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥
tan−1 �− �, if 𝑥𝑥0 > 0
𝜔𝜔𝑥𝑥0 3𝜋𝜋/2
is 𝜙𝜙 = � 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥
,
−1
tan �− 𝜔𝜔𝑥𝑥 � + 𝜋𝜋, if 𝑥𝑥0 < 0
0

irrespective of whether 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 is positive or negative, as

illustrated in the following example:

Example 𝜋𝜋/2

Given 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 = 0.40 m/s, 𝑥𝑥0 = 0.015 m, 𝜔𝜔 = 20 rad/s, then

𝜙𝜙2
−1
0.40 m/s
𝜙𝜙1 = tan �− � = −0.93 rad 𝜋𝜋 0
(20 rad/s)(0.015 m)
𝜙𝜙1
But if 𝑣𝑣0𝑥𝑥 = −0.40 m/s, 𝑥𝑥0 = −0.015 m, then sin 𝜙𝜙2 > 0
and cos 𝜙𝜙2 < 0, i.e., 𝜙𝜙2 in the second quadrant (between 𝜋𝜋/2
and 𝜋𝜋) , and the correct phase angle is 3𝜋𝜋/2
𝜙𝜙2 = 𝜋𝜋 − 0.93 rad = 2.21 rad

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 7

Clicker questions

Ans: Q14.6) D, Q14.7) B

PHYS1112 Lecture 14 Periodic Motion I P. 8