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Periodic motion is any motion which repeats itself. Like the revolution of the Earth. The
revolution of the Earth is not SHM but periodic.
Example = F = kx3 is periodic but not SHM.

Simple harmonic motion is special kind of motion that occurs

When force is proportional to x
F = kx
Simple harmonic motion is thus a special case of periodic motion

3cos wt - cos3wt
(i) cos3 wt =
4
It is periodic but not S.H.M as the graph does not resemble sine graph
(ii) sin wt + sin3wt + sin5wt
Periodic but not S.H.M.
(iii) log 2t neither periodic neither S.H.M
(iv) a sin wt + b sin2wt
Periodic but not S.H.M.

Whenever a motion is a combination of two SHM with different frequencies (or

in the eqaution) it will not be an SHM. On the other hand if a motion is formed
by an infinite number of oscillations of difference frequencies , the resultant will
be an SHM
1 cos2t
Another example cos2 t
2

1 cos2t
OR y
2

1
S.H.M has mean position equal to zero here it oscillates about y
2 Hence it is a

harmonic motion and periodic motion but not simple harmonic motion.

To be simple harmonic motion it must be of the form;

X= A sin t

The equation is simple harmonic about y=-1/2