Quarter 2 Week 2 Activity 7: Simple Harmonic Motion (Spring)

Name: _______________________________________________ Grade 12 STEM Sec. _______________

Simple Harmonic Motion

Simple harmonic motion is defined as a periodic motion of a point along a straight line,
such that its acceleration is always towards a fixed point in that line and is proportional to its
distance from that point. It is the repetitive movement back and forth through an equilibrium, or
central, position, so that the maximum displacement on one side of this position is equal to the
maximum displacement on the other side. The time interval of each complete vibration is the same.

Hooke’s Law
Hooke's law states that the force
(F) needed to extend or compress a
spring by some distance (x) scales linearly
with respect to that distance—that is:

F = kx where: F – Force (N)

k – is a constant factor characteristic of the spring ( )
x – distortion or change in length of the spring (m)
Example 1
What is the magnitude of the force required to stretch a 20 cm-long spring, with a spring
constant of 100 N/m, to a length of 21 cm?
Given Eq. Solution
k = 100 F = kx F = 100 (0.01 m)
x = 21 cm – 20 cm = 1 cm = 0.01 m F=1N

Elastic Potential Energy

Elastic potential energy is energy stored as a result of applying a force to deform an
elastic object. The energy is stored until the force is removed and the object springs back to its
original shape, doing work in the process. The deformation could involve compressing, stretching
or twisting the object. Elastic Potential Energy (EE) could be mathematically expressed as:
2
EE = kx where: EE – Elastic Potential Energy (Nm or J)

k – is a constant factor characteristic of the spring ( )

x – deformation or change in length of the spring (m)

Example 2
How much Elastic Potential Energy (EE) is stored in a 20 cm-long spring stretched to 21
cm-long if it has a spring constant of 100 N/m?
Given Eq. Solution
2 2
k = 100 EE = kx EE = (100 )(0.01 m)
2
x = 21 cm – 20 cm = 1 cm = 0.01 m EE = 50 (0.0001m )
EE = 0.005 Nm or 0.005 J

Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion. It is defined
as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Kinetic
Energy (KE) could be mathematically expressed as:
 2
KE = where: m – mass (kg)
v – velocity ( )

Example 3
How much Kinetic Energy (KE) possessed by a 1 kg mass attached at the end of a spring if
it has a velocity of 0.1 ?
Given Eq. Solution
2 2
m = 1 kg KE = mv KE = (1 kg )(0.1 m)
2
v = 0.1 KE = 0.5 (0.01m )
KE = 0.005 Nm or 0.005 J

Conservation of Mechanical Energy in Spring

When the spring is released, the
stored energy is immediately transformed
into Kinetic energy causing spring to move
back and forth. Let us use the illustration
at the right to observe the energy
transformation taking place in the spring.
At position a, the mass is being pulled
stretching the spring to the right. At this
position, the mass contains EE. When the
mass is released, it will move back toward
its original length at position b (x = 0). The EE is transformed to Kinetic Energy KE. The Kinetic
energy is at its maximum at this position equal to the EE. This KE then will continue to make the
mass move compressing the spring at position c. This compression to the spring causes the mass
to slow down and eventually stop. The KE is transformed to EE at this position. The stored EE due
to spring compression will then exert work to the mass causing it to move towards right at point
d and continues to stretch the spring until all the KE is transformed to EE again at point e. Then,
the cycle begins again. Thus, Mechanical Energy is conserved in a moving spring.
Using the concept of Conservation of Mechanical Energy, we
could derive the equation for the maximum velocity of the spring.

vMax = +A √ where: vMax – maximum velocity ( )

A – maximum distortion (m)

k – spring’s constant ( )
m – mass (kg)

Example 4
What is the maximum velocity of a 1 kg mass connected to a 20 cm-long spring with a
spring’s constant of 100 if it is compressed at 19 cm?
Given Eq. Solution

k = 100 vMax = +A √ vMax = 0.01 m √

x = 20 cm – 19 cm = 1 cm = 0.01 m vMax = 0.01 m (10 )

m = 1 kg vMax = 0.1
Kinematics of Simple Harmonic motion

Period (T) – It is the time for one cycle of an oscillating spring. T = 2𝛑 √

Frequency (f) – it is the number of cycle of an oscillating per second. f= √

It is the reciprocal of Period

Angular Velocity (ω) – it is the radians per unit time ω = 2𝛑f or ω =

where
m – mass (kg)
k – spring’s constant
A – amplitude or maximum distortion (m)

Angular displacement (x) – it is defined as “the angle in radians x = A cos ω t

through which a point or line has been
rotated in a specified sense about a
specified axis”

Example 5
A 20 cm-long spring with a spring’s constant equal to 100 is stretched to 21 cm-long. A
1 kg mass is attached on its free end. Determine the following quantities: Period; Frequency and
Angular Velocity
A. Period
Given Eq. Sol.

k = 100 T = 2𝛑 √ T = 2(3.14) √

m = 1 kg T = 6.28 (0.1 s)
A = 21 cm–20 cm = 1 cm = 0.01 m T = 0.63 s

B. Frequency
Given Eq. Sol.

k = 100 f= √ f= √
m = 1 kg f = 0.16 (10 )
A = 21 cm–20 cm = 1 cm = 0.01 m f = 1.6 Hz

C. Angular velocity
Given Eg. Solution Final answer
f = 1.6 Hz ω = 2𝛑f ω = 2(3.14)(1.6 Hz) ` ω = 9.92 or

T = 0.63 s ω= ω= ω = 9.96

D. What is the Angular displacement after 2 s?

Given Eg. Solution Final answer
t=2s x = A cos ω t x = 0.01 m cos (9.96 )(2 s) x = 0.009 m
ω = 9.96 x = 0.01 m cos (19.92) or 0.9 cm
A = 0.01 m x = 0.01 m (0.94)
WORD PROBLEM
1-5. A bow has a string with spring’s constant equal to 1 000 . How much force is needed to
extend it horizontally from its original position with 75 cm length?

6-10. How much Elastic Potential energy was stored in the bow in question 1?

11 – 15. How much Kinetic energy was stored in the bow in question 1?

16 – 20. Neglecting the mass of the string of the bow in question 1, how fast will a 100 g arrow
will be after released from the bow?

A I kg mass was used as bob in a vertical spring shown in the figure

on the right. The spring was pulled downward changing its length by
10 cm. The spring was released causing it to move up and down.
Neglecting the effect of air friction, determine the following

21 – 25. Period

26 – 30 Frequency

31 – 35. Angular Velocity

36 – 40. What is the angular displacement of the bob after 10 s?