PHYSICS WEEK 1 and 2 NOTE

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION (S.H.M)

A vibration or oscillation is generally any motion which repeats itself at regular intervals. A familiar
example is simple pendulum in which a small mass at the end of a string suspended from a point
moves to and fro. Thus, the essential characteristic of such oscillatory motion is the regularity and
repetition of the motion.

Simple harmonic motion is the periodic motion of a body or particle along a straight line such that
1. the acceleration of the body is directed towards a fixed point (or centre of motion)
2. the acceleration is proportional to its displacement from that point

We can study simple harmonic motion with a reference circle.

ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

Consider the motion of a particle p, moving round a reference circle with centre c, and diameters BD
and YZ as shown below.

Let the particle move with uniform speed v, round the circle of radius CZ = CY = A. The angular
velocity w, of the radius vector CP is related to the speed v of the particle by the equation

As p moves round the circle, Q moves to and fro along YZ, being momentarily at rest at Y and Z and
moving with maximum speed as it passes through C, the centre of the path YZ. Thus, the motion of
Q along the diameter YZ is simple harmonic motion while the particle p moves with a constant speed
v round the circle.

From the above diagram,

Hence,

But
Hence,

Substituting … (2) in …(1),

(where x = displacement of a body in simple harmonic motion)

From …(3),

So wt)

The acceleration a, of the particle in time t, is given as

Substituting , from …(3) in …(5)

The acceleration of the particle in time t, at any position x is given by

where

The amplitude A, of a simple harmonic motion is the maximum displacement of the body performing
simple harmonic motion from its equilibrium or central position C.

The period T, is defined as the total time taken by a vibrating body to make one complete revolution
(or cycle) about a reference point. Hence,

The frequency f, is the number of complete revolutions per second made by a vibrating body. Hence,
Comparing …(7) and …(8), we see that

Also, recall from …(2) that . This is similar to the expression in linear motion; . The
angle is measured in radians, hence w is in radsec-1.

By definition, in radians where r = radius of circle.

So,

From …(10),

Substituting in

Recall that

So

Hence, linear speed equals the product of the angular speed and the radius or amplitude of motion.
The linear velocity v, at any point Q whose distance from C, the central point x, is given by;

Maximum velocity of particle, (i.e at equilibrium point – centre of circle) when x = 0, …(12)
becomes

Alternatively, ………..(13)

(since r = A from the reference circle)

But from …(11),

Hence,

The component of this centripetal acceleration along CZ is given by

Putting …(1) in …(14),

The negative sign indicates that the acceleration is always directed inwards towards C while the
displacement x, is measured outwards from C.

Also recall that . So, when , the period of SHM or the time for one cycle,

Hence,

So

Since

The angular acceleration of a body is the time rate of change of its angular velocity w. Its unit is
radians per second per second (rads-2).

If the angular velocity of a body changes uniformly from w0 to wt in t second, then

But from …(11),

Hence,

( )

But

Hence,

Linear acceleration equals the product of angular acceleration and the radius or displacement of the
particle from its central position.

CALCULATIONS ON SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

1. a boy ties a stone to the end of a string which he then whirls above his head round a circular
path of radius 15cm. If the stone makes 20 oscillations in 10 seconds, calculate the angular
and linear speed of the stone.
2. A spring makes 60 revolutions in 15 seconds. Find the period and the frequency of the
vibration.
 3. A body vibrates in simple harmonic motion with a frequency of 50Hz and an amplitude of
4cm. Calculate
a. the period
b. the acceleration at the middle and at the end of the path of oscillation
c. the velocities at the middle and at the end of path of oscillation
d. the velocity and acceleration at a distance of 2cm from the centre of oscillation

Answers to the above questions

1. 1 complete oscillation = 3600 = 2 rad.

20 complete oscillations = (360 20)0 = 2 20 rad. = 40

2.

3. (a.)
( b.)
At midpoint of vibration, i.e, at C, x = 0

At end of path, x = amplitude = 4cm = 0.04m

But
So,

(c.) √
At x = 0;
At x = A; √ (since x = A)

(d.) √
√
√
√

ASSIGNMENT:
1. A stone moves through an angle equal to in 3 seconds. Find the angular
velocity.
2. An object moving with SHM has an amplitude of 5cm and a frequency of 50Hz. What is the
period of oscillation?