SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION (SHM)

LECTURER
MR. M C Zulu
 INTRODUCTION

 We define periodic motion to be any

motion that repeats itself at regular time
intervals, such as exhibited by the guitar
string or by a child swinging on a swing.
 In this section, we study the basic
characteristics of oscillations and their
mathematical description.
 PERIOD AND FREQUENCY IN OSCILLATIONS

 In the absence of friction, the time to complete one oscillation remains constant and is
called the period (T). Its units are usually seconds.
 Frequency (f) is the number of oscillations per unit time. The relationship between
frequency and period is
1
f =
T
 The SI unit for frequency is the hertz (Hz) and is defined as one cycle per second:

1
1Hz = 1cycle / sec or 1Hz = = 1s −1
s
 EXAMPLE

 Ultrasound machines are used by medical professionals to make images for

examining internal organs of the body. An ultrasound machine emits high-
frequency sound waves, which reflect off the organs, and a computer
receives the waves, using them to create a picture.. Consider a medical
imaging device that produces ultrasound by oscillating with a period of
0.400μs. What is the frequency of this oscillation?
 EXAMPLE CONT.

 Strategy
➢ The period (T) is given and we are asked to find frequency (f).

1 1
f = =
T 0.400  10−6 s
f = 2.50  106 Hz
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

 In simple harmonic motion, the acceleration of the system, and

therefore the net force, is proportional to the displacement and acts
in the opposite direction of the displacement.
 If the net force can be described by Hooke’s law
Hooke’s Law states Fs = -kx
 k is the force (spring) constant.
 x is the displacement.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION CONT.

 A simple harmonic oscillator oscillates with equal displacement on either side of the equilibrium position.
The maximum displacement from equilibrium is called the amplitude (A)

 What is so significant about SHM? For one thing, the period T and frequency f of a simple harmonic
oscillator are independent of amplitude.
 In fact, the mass m and the force constant k are the only factors that affect the period and frequency of
SHM
CHARACTERISTICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION CONT.

 When two massless springs following Hooke's Law, are

connected via a thin, vertical rod as shown in the figure
below, these are said to be connected in parallel

k = k1 + k2
 When same springs are connected as shown in the
figure below, these are said to be connected in series.

1 1 1
= +
k k1 k2
EXAMPLE
 A spring is mounted horizontally, with its left end fixed. A spring balance
attached to the free end and pulled toward the right indicates that the
stretching force is proportional to the displacement, and a force of 6.0 N
causes a displacement of 0.030 m.
 Find the spring constant
When x = 0.030 m, the force the spring exerts on
the spring balance is 𝐹𝑥 = −6.0 𝑁

F = −kx
FX −6.0 N
k=− = = 200 N / m = 200kg / s 2
x 0.030m
 VERTICAL MOTION AND A HORIZONTAL SPRING

 When a spring is hung vertically and a block is attached

and set in motion, the block oscillates in SHM.
 The net force on the object can be described by Hooke’s
law, so the object undergoes SHM.
 Note that the initial position has the vertical displacement
at its maximum value A; v is initially zero and then
negative as the object moves down; the initial acceleration
is negative, back toward the equilibrium position and
becomes zero at that point.

F = −ky
ma = −ky
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF MOTION
 Using F = ma for the spring, we have ma = −kx
 But recall that acceleration is the second derivative of the position:
d 2x
a= 2
dt
 So this simple force equation is an example of a differential equation,
d 2x d 2x k
m 2 = −kx or 2
=− x
dt dt m
 An object moves in simple harmonic motion whenever its acceleration is
proportional to its position and has the opposite sign to the displacement
from equilibrium.
ANALYSIS MODEL, SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

 What are the units of k/m, in ? d 2x k

a= 2 =− x
dt m
 They are 1/s2, which we can regard as a frequency-squared, so let’s write it
as
k
 =
2

m
 Then the equation becomes
a = − 2 x

 A typical way to solve such a differential equation is to simply search for a

function that satisfies the requirement, in this case, that its second derivative
yields the negative of itself! The sine and cosine functions meet these
requirements.
 SHM GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION
 A solution to the differential
equation is
x(t ) = A cos(t +  )

 A, 𝜔, f are all constants:

A = amplitude (maximum position

in either positive or negative x direction,
Remember, the period
k and frequency are:
𝜔 = angular frequency,
m 2  1  
T= f = = 
f = phase constant, or initial phase angle.   T 2 
A and f are determined by initial conditions.
 MOTION EQUATIONS FOR SHM

x(t ) = A cos(t +  )
dx
v(t ) = = − A sin(t +  )
dt
d 2x
a (t ) = 2 = − 2 A cos(t +  )
dt
The velocity is 90o out of phase with
the displacement and the
acceleration is 180o out of phase with
the displacement.
 SUMMARY OF EQUATIONS OF MOTION FOR SHM

 In summary, the oscillatory motion of a block on a spring can be

modeled with the following equations of motion:

x(t ) = A cos(t +  ) xmax = A

dx
v(t ) = = − A sin(t +  ) vmax = A
dt
d 2x
a (t ) = 2 = − 2 A cos(t +  ) amax = A 2
dt
 EXAMPLE

 A 7.00 kg object is hung from the bottom end of a vertical spring fastened to
an overhead beam. The object is set into vertical oscillations having a period
of 2.60 s. Find the force constant of the spring.

 1 k
f = =
2 2 m
OR
1 m 4 m2
4 2 ( 7.00 Kg )
T = = 2 k= = = 40.9 N / m
( 2.60s )
2 2
f k T
 EXAMPLE

 The shock absorbers in an old car with mass 1000 kg are completely worn
out. When a 980-N person climbs slowly into the car at its center of gravity,
the car sinks 2.8 cm. The car (with the person aboard) hits a bump, and the
car starts oscillating up and down in SHM. Model the car and person as a
single body on a single spring, and find the period and frequency of the
oscillation.
 EXAMPLE
 When the force increases by 980 N, the spring compresses an additional 0.028 m, and the
x-coordinate of the car changes by -0.028 m
Fx = −kx
Fx 980 N
k=− = = 3.5  104 kg / s 2
𝑤 1980𝑁
x −0.028m
 The person’s mass is = = 100 𝑘𝑔.
𝑔 9.81𝑚/𝑠 2

 The total oscillating mass is 𝑚 = 1000 𝑘𝑔 + 100 𝑘𝑔 = 1100 𝑘𝑔.

 The period T is
m 1100kg
T = 2 = 2 = 1.11s
k 3.5  10 kg / s
4 2

1 1
f = = = 0.90 s −1 = 0.90 Hz
T 1.11s
 EXAMPLE

 An object oscillates with simple harmonic motion along the x axis. Its
position varies with time according to the equation.
𝝅
𝒙 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟎𝒎 𝐜𝐨𝐬(𝝅𝒕 + )
𝟔
 where t is in seconds and the angles in the parentheses are in radians.
 (a) Determine the amplitude, angular frequency, frequency, and period of the
motion.
 EXAMPLE
 Write general equation and compare

x(t ) = A cos( t +  )

x(t ) = 4.0 cos( t + )
6
A = 4.0m
 =  s −1
 Period and frequency
2 2 1 1
T= = = 2s f = = = 0.5 Hz
  T 2
 EXAMPLE

 A 2.00-kg block is placed on a frictionless surface. A spring with a force constant of k = 32.00 N/m
is attached to the block, and the opposite end of the spring is attached to the wall. The spring can
be compressed or extended. The equilibrium position is marked as x = 0.00 m. Work is done on
the block, pulling it out to x = + 0.02 m. The block is released from rest and oscillates between x
= + 0.02 m and x = −0.02 m. The period of the motion is 1.57 s. Determine
1. Amplitude
2. Angular Frequency
3. Maximum velocity
4. Maximum acceleration
5. The equation of SHM.
EXAMPLE CONT.
 Solution
 Amplitude; A= 0.02m
2 2
 The angular frequency = = = 4.00 s −1
T 1.57 s

 maximum velocity and

vmax = A = 0.02m  4.00 s −1

= 0.08m / s

 maximum acceleration:
amax = A 2 = (0.02m)(4.00 s −1 ) = 0.32m / s 2
 EXAMPLE CONT.
 The phase shift is zero, ϕ = 0.00 rad, because the block is released from
rest at x = A = + 0.02 m.
 We write general form of equation for position.
x(t ) = A cos( t +  )
 We substitute the calculated parameters.

x(t ) = 0.02 cos(4.00t + 0)

x(t ) = 0.02 cos 4.00t

 Determine the equation for velocity and acceleration?

 EXAMPLE
 A 7.00 kg object is hung from the bottom end of a vertical spring
fastened to an overhead beam. The object is set into vertical
oscillations having an angular frequency of 2 rad/s. Find the force
constant of the spring.
k
=
m
k
 =
2

m
k =  m = 2  7 = 28kg / s
2 2 2
CONSIDER THE ENERGY OF SHM OSCILLATOR
 The spring force is a conservative force, so in a frictionless system the energy
is constant
 Kinetic energy, as usual, is

K = 12 mv 2 = 12 m 2 A2 sin 2 (t +  )

 The spring potential energy, as usual, is

U = 12 kx 2 = 12 kA2 cos2 (t +  )

 Then the total energy is just

E = K + U = 12 kA2 (a constant)
 TRANSFER OF ENERGY OF SHM
 The total energy is constant at all times, and is E = 12 kA2 (proportional to the square of the
amplitude)
 Energy is continuously being transferred between potential energy stored in the spring, and the
kinetic energy of the block.
 VELOCITY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION

 During the oscillations, the total energy is constant and equal to the sum
of the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the system,
 The equation for the energy associated with SHM can be solved to find the
magnitude of the velocity at any position:

k 2
v = (A − x )
2

m
 EXAMPLE

 A body of mass 30 g and spring constant k = 750 N/m is attached to a spring

which obeys Hook’s law and displaced 5 cm from the mean position. Find the
angular velocity and the linear velocity of the mass at 2.5 cm when the mass is
released.

v=
m
(
k 2
A − x 2
)
x=2.5 =0.025m
k 750
v=
750 N / m
0.03kg
( 0.052 − 0.0252 ) = 6.85m / s = = = = 158rad / s
m 0.03kg
 EXAMPLE
 A 500.0 g object connected to a spring with a force constant of 350.0 N/m
oscillates on a horizontal, frictionless surface with an amplitude of 4.00 cm.
Find

a) the total energy of the system when the position 2.00 cm.

b) the speed of the object when the position is 2.00 cm.

c) the acceleration when the object position 2.00 cm.

d) the kinetic energy and the potential energy when the position is 3.00cm.
 EXAMPLE CONT.

 the total energy of the system when the position is 2.00 cm

1 2 1
E = kA = (350  0.042 ) = 0.28 J
2 2
 the speed of the object when the position is 2.00 cm.

k 2 350 N / m
v= ( A − x2 ) = (0.042 − 0.022 ) = 0.84m / s
m 0.5kg

 the acceleration when the object position 2.00 cm.

k 350
ax = − x = − x = −
2
 0.02 = −14m / s 2
m 0.5
 EXAMPLE CONT.

 The kinetic energy and the potential energy when the position is 3.00cm

1 2
KE = mv
2
but
k 2 350
v= (A − x ) =
2
(0.042 − 0.032 ) = 0.7 m / s
m 0.5
SO 1 2 1
1 2 1
PE = kx =  350  (0.03) 2 = 0.158 J
KE = mv =  0.5  0.7 2 = 0.123 J 2 2
2 2
SIMPLE PENDULUM

 The forces acting on the bob are the tension and the
weight.
 T is the force exerted by the string
 mg is the gravitational force
 The tangential component of the gravitational force is
the restoring force.
 Recall that the tangential acceleration is

d 2
at = r = L = L 2
dt
 This gives another differential equation

d 2 g g
= −   −  (for small  )
6/15/2022
2
sin
dt L L
FREQUENCY OF SIMPLE PENDULUM
 The equation for  is the same form as for the spring, with
solution
 (t ) =  max cos( t +  )

where now the angular frequency is

g  2 L
=  so the period is T = = 2 
L   g
Summary: the period and frequency of a simple pendulum
depend only on the length of the string and the acceleration
due to gravity. The period is independent of mass.
 EXAMPLE

 What is the acceleration due to gravity in a region where a simple pendulum

having a length 75.000 cm has a period of 1.7357 s?

L
T = 2
g
4 2 L 4 2  0.75
g= = = 9.8281m / s 2

T2 (1.7357) 2
TASK

A grandfather clock is designed so that one swing of the

pendulum in either direction takes 1.00 s. What is the length
of the pendulum?
 PHYSICAL PENDULUMS

❑ A physical pendulum is a
pendulum whose mass is
distributed along its length.
❑ The position of the center of
gravity of the physical
pendulum is at a distance d
from the pivot.
 PHYSICAL PENDULUMS CONT.

 When the pendulum is pushed to the side, a gravitational

torque pulls it back. The greater the distance d of the
center of gravity from the pivot point, the greater the
torque
 The moment of inertia I is a measure of an object’s
resistance to rotation. Increasing the moment of inertia
while keeping other variables equal should cause the
frequency to decrease

I
T = 2
mgd
EXAMPLE
 A student in a biomechanics lab measures the length of his leg, from hip to heel,
to be 0.90 m.
(a) What is the frequency of the pendulum motion of the student’s leg?
(b) What is the period?
Assuming that the leg is a uniform rod pivoted about its end. (𝐼 = 1/3𝑚𝐿2)
 DUMPED OSCILLATION.
Friction or other sources of external work can lead to a loss of energy, (known as
dissipation), from an oscillating system. This phenomenon is referred to as
damping.
Damping has two principal effects on the oscillating system. It
- decreases the amplitude of the oscillations and
- decreases the frequency (increases the period) of oscillations.
 DUMPED OSCILLATION CONT.

 When the damping constant is small, 𝑏 < 4𝑚𝑘, the system

oscillates while the amplitude of the motion decays
exponentially. This system is said to be underdamped. Curve
(a)

 If the damping constant is 𝑏 = 4𝑚𝑘, , the system is said to be

critically damped. An example of a critically damped system
is the shock absorbers in a car. Curve (b)

 A system is overdamped system where 𝑏 > 4𝑚𝑘. Curve (c)

END OF LECTURE 11