Lecture 21:

Ideal Spring and Simple Harmonic Motion

z New Material: Textbook Chapters 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 1

 Ideal Springs

z Hooke’s Law: The force exerted by a spring is

proportional to the distance the spring is stretched or
compressed from its relaxed position (for small x).

ÎFX = -k x Where x is the displacement from

the relaxed position and k is the
constant of proportionality.
(often called “spring constant”)
SI unit of k: [N/m]

relaxed position

FX = 0
x
x=0

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 2

 Ideal Springs

z Hooke’s Law: The force exerted by a spring is

proportional to the distance the spring is stretched or
compressed from its relaxed position.

ÎFX = -k x Where x is the displacement from

the relaxed position and k is the
constant of proportionality.
(often called “spring constant”)

relaxed position

FX = -kx > 0

x
x<0
x=0
Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 3
 Ideal Springs

z Hooke’s Law: The force exerted by a spring is

proportional to the distance the spring is stretched or
compressed from its relaxed position.

ÎFX = -k x Where x is the displacement from

the relaxed position and k is the
constant of proportionality.
(often called “spring constant”)

relaxed position

FX = - kx < 0

x
x>0
x=0
Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 4
 Simple Harmonic Motion

Consider the friction-free motion of an object attached

to an ideal spring, i.e. a spring that behaves according to
Hooke’s law.
How does displacement, velocity and acceleration
of the object vary with time ?
Analogy:
Simple harmonic motion along x
<-> x component of uniform circular motion

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 5

 What does moving along a circular path have to do with
moving back & forth in a straight line (oscillation about
equilibrium) ??

x = R cos θ = R cos (ωt)

since θ = ω t

x x
1 1
2 8
R 2 8

θ
3 R 3 7
y 0 θ
7 π π 3π
2 2
4 6 -R 4 6
5 5

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 6

 Velocity and Acceleration

z Using again the reference circle one finds for the

velocity
v = - vT sin θ = - A ω sin (ω t)
and for the acceleration
a = - ac cos θ = - A ω2 cos (ω t)

with ω in [rad/s]

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 7

 Concept Question
A mass on a spring oscillates back & forth with simple harmonic motion
of amplitude A. A plot of displacement (x) versus time (t) is shown
below. At what points during its oscillation is the speed of the block
biggest?
1. When x = +A or -A (i.e. maximum displacement)
2. When x = 0 (i.e. zero displacement) CORRECT
3. The speed of the mass is constant

x
+A

t
-A

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 8

 Concept Question
A mass on a spring oscillates back & forth with simple harmonic motion
of amplitude A. A plot of displacement (x) versus time (t) is shown
below. At what points during its oscillation is the magnitude of the
acceleration of the block biggest?
1. When x = +A or -A (i.e. maximum displacement) CORRECT
2. When x = 0 (i.e. zero displacement)
3. The acceleration of the mass is constant

x
+A

t
-A

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 9

Springs and Simple Harmonic Motion
X=0

X=A; v=0; a=-amax

X=0; v=-vmax; a=0

X=-A; v=0; a=amax

X=0; v=vmax; a=0

X=A; v=0; a=-amax

X=-A X=A

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 10

 Simple Harmonic Motion:

At t=0 s, x=A or At t=0 s, x=0 m

x(t) = [A]cos(ωt) x(t) = [A]sin(ωt)

v(t) = -[Aω]sin(ωt) OR v(t) = [Aω]cos(ωt)
a(t) = -[Aω2]cos(ωt) a(t) = -[Aω2]sin(ωt)

xmax = A Period = T (seconds per cycle)

vmax = Aω Frequency = f = 1/T (cycles per second)

amax = Aω2 Angular frequency = ω = 2πf = 2π/T

For spring: ω2 = k/m
Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 11
 Elastic Potential Energy

z Work done by the (average) restoring force of the spring

is

W = |Fave| s cos θ = ½ k ( x0+xf) (x0-xf) =

= ½ k (x02 – xf2) = Epot,elastic,0- Epot,elastic,f

The elastic potential energy

Epot,elastic = ½ k x2
has to be considered in addition to kinetic and gravitational
potential energy when calculating the total mechanical
energy of an object.

Physics 101: Lecture 21, Pg 12