Simple harmonic motion

Vibration / Oscillation
 to-and-fro repeating
movement

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Simple harmonic motion S.H.M.
 A special kind of oscillation

X O Y
 X, Y : extreme points A
 O: centre of oscillation / equilibrium position
 A: amplitude A special relation between
the displacement and
acceleration of the particle 2
 Exploring the acceleration and displacement of
S.H.M.
a– x graph
1.5

0.3

displacement acceleration
1
0.2

acceleration
0.5
0.1

0 0
displacement
0 45 90 135 180 225 270 315 360 405 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

time
-0.1
-0.5

-0.2

-1

-0.3

-1.5

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Exploring the acceleration and displacement
of S.H.M.
a – x graph a

a ∝ -x
x

x

Definition of Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M.)

An oscillation is said to be an S.H.M if
(1) the magnitude of acceleration is directly proportional to
distance from a fixed point (centre of oscillation), and

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Definition of Simple harmonic motion (S.H.M.)
An oscillation is said to be an S.H.M if
(1) the magnitude of acceleration is directly proportional to
distance from a fixed point, and
(2) the acceleration is always directed towards that point.
a(-) a(-) a(-) a(+) a(+) a(+)
a = 3k a = 2k a = k a = 0 a = k a = 2k a = 3k

x
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Note:
For S.H.M.,
direction of acceleration and displacement is always opposite to
each other. 5
Equations of S.H.M. For the projection P’
• Moves from X’ to O’ to Y’ and
w returns through O’ to X’ as P
rw cos q
2
P completes each revolution.
a = rw2 rw2 sin q Displacement
• Displacement from O
q • x = r cos q = r cos w t
O Acceleration
r Acceleration of P’ = component
of acceleration of P along the
x x-axis
Y’ O’ P’ X’ • a = -rw2 cos q (-ve means
x directed towards O)
∴ a = -w2 x
q = wt The motion of P’ is simple
harmonic.
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Equations of S.H.M.
rw cos q
rw q w Period
P The period of oscillation of P’
rw sin q = time for P to make one
revolution
q T = 2p / angular speed
O
∴ T = 2p/w
r
Velocity
x Velocity of P’
Y’ O’ P’ X’ = component of velocity of P
x along the x-axis
v = -rw sin q = -rw sin w t

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Equations of S.H.M.
rw cos q
rw q w Motion of P’
P  Amplitude of oscillation
rw sin q = Radius of circle
⇒ A=r
q A  Displacement x:
O
x = A cos q
r  Velocity v:
v = -wA sin q
x
 Acceleration a:
Y’ O’ P’ X’ a = -w2A cos q
x

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Relation between the amplitude
of oscillation A and x, w, and v:
v x
 sin q   , cos q 
Aw A
2 2
 v  x
     1
 Aw   A 
 v 2  w 2 x 2  A2w 2

 v 2  w 2 A2  x 2 
Note: Maximum speed = wA at x = 0
(at centre of oscillation / equilibrium position).

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Example 1
A particle moving with S.H.M. has velocities of 4 cm s-1 and
3 cm s-1 at distances of 3 cm and 4 cm respectively from its
equilibrium. Find
(a) the amplitude of the oscillation
4 ms -1
 Solution:
By v2 = w2(A2 – x2)
when x = 3 cm, v = 4 cm s-1, O
-1 3 ms-1
x = 4 cm, v = 3 cm s .
42 = w2(A2 – 32) --- (1)
32 = w2(A2 – 42) --- (2)
(1)/(2):
16/9 = (A2 – 9) / (A2 – 16)
9A2 – 81 = 16 A2 - 256
A2 = 25
A = 5 cm
∴ amplitude = 5 cm 10
(b) the period,
(c) the velocity of the particle as it passes through
the equilibrium position.

 (b) Put A = 5 cm into (1)

42 = w2(52 – 32)
w2 = 1⇒ w = 1 rad s-1
T = 2p/w = 2p s
(c) at equilibrium position, x = 0
By v2 = w2(A2 – x2)
v2 = 12(52 – 02)
v = 5 cm s-1

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Isochronous oscillations
 Definition: period of oscillation is
independent of its amplitude.
 Examples: Masses on springs and simple
pendulums

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Phase difference of x-t, v-t and a-t graphs
x v a
x  A cos w t v  wA sin w t a  w 2 A cos w t

A wA w2A
t t t

0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T 0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T

y
w
Vectors x, v and a rotate with the
same angular velocity w.
x
Their projections on the y-axis give
v
the above x-t, v-t and a-t graphs.
A wA w2A
a

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Phase difference of x-t, v-t and a-t graphs
y
w Note:
1 a leads v by 90o or T/4.
x
(v lags a by 90o or T/4)
v
2 v leads x by 90o or T/4.
(x lags v by 90o or T/4)
A wA w2A
a
3 a leads x by 180oor T/2.
(a and x are out of phase or
antiphase)

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Energy of S.H.M.
(Energy and displacement)
 From equation of S.H.M.
 v2 = w2(A2 – x2),
 ∴ K.E. = ½ mv2 = ½ mw2(A2 – x2)
K.E.

x
-A 0 A
Note:
1. K.E. is maximum when x = 0 (equilibrium position)
2. K.E. is minimum at extreme points (speed = 0)
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 Potential energy
 P.E. = ½ kx2 Centre of oscillation
 ∵ w2 = k/m
 ∴ P.E. = ½ mw2x2 ix
P.E.
x = -A x=A

x
-A 0 A
 P.E. is maximum at extreme points.
(Spring is most stretched.)
 P.E. is minimum when x = 0.
(Spring is not stretched)
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Total energy = K.E. + P.E.
1
2
2 2
 2 1
2
2 2 1
2

 mw A  x  mw x  mw 2 A2 (constant)

Energy

½ mw2A2 Total energy

P.E.

K.E.

-A 0 A x

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Energy and time
From equation of S.H.M.
x  A cos w t and v  wA sin w t
K.E. =
1 2 1
mv  m  wA sin w t  2

1
mw 2 A 2 sin 2 w t
2 2 2
P.E. =
1
m w 2 2
x 
1
mw 2
 A cos w t 2

1
mw 2 A 2 cos 2 w t
2 2 2
Total energy = K.E. + P.E.


1
2
1 1

mw 2 A 2 sin 2 w t  mw 2 A 2 cos 2 w t  mw 2 A 2 sin 2 w t  cos 2 w t
2 2

1
 mw 2 A 2 (constant)
2

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 Energy
Total energy
½ mw2A2
P.E. = ½ mw2A2cos2wt

K.E. = ½ mw2A2sin2wt
0 T/4 T/2 3T/4 T Time

Centre of oscillation

ix

t = T/2 t=0
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Examples of S.H.M.
Mass on spring – horizontal oscillation
Hooke’s law: F = kx where k is the force constant and x is
the extension
 By Newton’s second law
Centre of oscillation T = -ma
kx = -ma
ix T a = -(k/m)x
 which is in the form of a = -w2x
 Hence, the motion of the mass
is simple harmonic, and
Natural Extension w2 = k/m
length (l) (x)  Period of oscillation

2p m
  2p
w k

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 Mass on spring – vertical oscillation
 At equilibrium,
Natural T’ = mg
length (l) ke = mg
 Displaced from equilibrium,
Extension at T’
equilibrium
e Centre of T – mg = -ma
Displacement x
T oscillation k(e + x) – mg = -ma
mg
from mg k(  x)  mg  ma
equilibrium mg k
k
Spring In Displaced a x
unstretched equilibrium from m
equilibrium which is in the form of a = -w2x
 Hence, the motion of the mass
is simple harmonic
and w2 = k/m.
 Period of oscillation
2p m
  2p 21
w k
Effective mass of spring

 Not only the mass oscillates when it

is released, but also the spring itself.
 The period of oscillation is affected
by the mass of the spring.

m
 Hence, the equation T  2p
k

m  ms
should be rewritten as T  2p
k
where ms is the effective mass
of the spring.

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Measurement of effective mass of spring
 To find the effective mass, we can do an experiment by
using different masses m and measure the
corresponding periods T.
 Use the results to plot a graph of T2 against m which is a
straight line but it does not pass through the origin.
T2
Line of
x best fit
x
x x
x

m
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 m  ms
T  2p
∴
k
m  ms 4p 2
4p 2
∴ T 2  4p 2 or T 2  m ms
k k k
T2
4p 2
slope =
x k
x 4p 2
y-intercept = ms
x x k
x
∴ effective mass ms
k
  y-intercept
4p 2
m
In theory, effective mass of a spring is about ⅓ of the mass of string.
Usually, we would neglect the effective mass for simplicity.
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 Combined Springs Oscillation
Case 1: Springs in parallel
 Let x be the common extension
of the spring.
∵ the springs are in parallel,
F1 = k1x F2 = k2x ∴ upward force F = F1 + F2
F = k1x + k2x = (k1 + k2)x
 Note: k1 + k2 is the equivalent
force constant of the system.
F
 When the mass is set into
vibration, the oscillation is simple
harmonic.
 Period of oscillation
m
T  2p
k
where k = k1 + k2
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 Case 2: Springs in series
 Let x1 and x2 be the extensions of the first
and the second spring respectively.
F1 = k1x1  The total extension x = x1 + x2
 ∵ the springs are in series,
 ∴ upward force F = F1 = F2
F2 = k2 x2  F = k 1 x1 = k2 x2
F F
 x1  and x2 
F k1 k2
 ∵
x = x1 + x2
F F
x 
k1 k 2
x 1 1 1
F or F  kx where  
1 1 k k1 k 2

k1 k 2

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 Case 2: Springs in series
Note: the equivalent force constant of the
F1 = k1x1
1 1 1
system is k where  
k k1 k 2
F2 = k2 x2 When the mass is set into vibration, the
oscillation is simple harmonic.
F m
Period of oscillation T  2p
. k
1 1 1
where  
k k1 k 2

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Case 3: The mass is connected by two springs
on both sides
Equilibrium position
Force Force
Suppose the springs are
constant k1 constant k2
T1 T2 initially unstretched.

Under x Under
extension compression
When the mass is displaced to the right by x,
1st spring is extended but 2nd spring is compressed.
Resultant force on the bob F = T1 + T2
∴ F = k1x + k2x = (k1 + k2)x
Note: k1 + k2 is the equivalent force constant of the system.
The oscillation is simple harmonic.
m
Period of oscillation T  2p where k = k1 + k2. 28
k
Simple pendulum
A  Resolve tangentially (perpendicular to the
string)
mg sin q = -ma
q where a is the acceleration along the arc
l If q is small (i.e. <10o), sin q ≈ q and x ≈ lq ,
T mg sin q = -ma becomes
mg q = -ma
O
x P a = -g(x/l) = -(g/l)x
mg sin q which is in the form of a = -w2x
 Hence, the motion of the bob is simple

mg cos q
harmonic and w 2 = g/l
2p l
mg  Period of oscillation T   2p
w g

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A simple pendulum has a period of 2 s and an
amplitude of swing 5 cm.
Calculate the maximum magnitudes of
(a) velocity, and
(b) acceleration of the bob.
 Solution:
2p 2p
By T  2  w  p rad s 1
w w
 (a) maximum magnitude of velocity
= wA = p(5) = 5p cm s-1
 (b) maximum magnitude of velocity
= w2A = 5p2 cm s-2

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