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Harmonic Motion
Harmonic Motion
HARMONIC MOTION
• A type of motion in which the acceleration varies directly as the displacement is known as simple harmonic
motion. The most common example is reciprocation over a straight path with the sense of the acceleration
always toward the center of the path and its magnitude directly proportional to the distance of the moving
particle from that center.
• The nature of the motion may be visualized by reference to following figure. Suppose a particle E to be moving
with uniform speed around the circumference of a semicircle of radius R, center C, and diameter AB. Another
particle P moves along the diameter AB at such a variable speed that it is at all times at the foot of a
perpendicular dropped from E to AB. When E is at A, P is at A also. If E moves with a linear speed V e the radial
line CE will turn at an angular speed equal to Ve /R.
• Call this constant angular speed w. Then ω = π/time required for the motion from A to B. Then
Therfore
• (i) x = A sin ωt + B cos ωt
This differential equation is similar to the differential equation of SHM (equation 10.10).
Therefore, x = A sin ωt + B cos ωt represents SHM.
• (ii) x =A sin ωt + B cos2ωt
This differential equation is not like the differential equation of a SHM (equation 10.10).
Therefore, x = A sin ωt + B cos 2ωt does not represent SHM.
• (iii) x=Aejωt
• This differential equation is like the differential equation of SHM (equation 10.10).
Therefore, x = A eiωt represents SHM.
• (iv) x = A ln ωt
• This differential equation is not like the differential equation of a SHM (equation 10.10). Therefore, x = A ln
ωt does not represent SHM.