Week 1:

Any motion that repeats at regular intervals is called periodic motion or harmonic motion.
Simple harmonic motion is a special type of periodic motion when the force acting on the
object is proportional to the displacement but in the opposite direction.
Example of Simple Harmonic Motion: Vibration of an object attached to a spring, Motion of
a simple pendulum.

Figure 1: An object repeatedly oscillates left and right along x axis.

The force acting on an object in simple harmonic motion is

𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥 … … … (1)

where 𝐹 is force, 𝑘 is a constant and 𝑥 is the displacement of object. Minus sign

indicates the force acts on opposite to the direction of displacement.

The displacement of an object in simple harmonic motion is a cosine or sine

function of time.

𝑥 = 𝑥𝑚 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙) … … … (2),

where 𝑥(𝑡) is displacement at time 𝑡, 𝑥𝑚 is amplitude, 𝜔 is angular frequency,

𝑡 is time, 𝜙 is the phase angle or phase constant.
Some Definitions:
Time Period, T: The time for one full cycle is the period 𝑇 of the oscillation.
Frequency, 𝒇: The frequency f of the oscillation is the number of times per second that
completes a full oscillation (a cycle) and has the unit of hertz (abbreviated Hz).
1
𝑓=
𝑇
2𝜋
Angular frequency, 𝜔 = 𝑇
= 2𝜋𝑓

Example 1:
A body in simple harmonic motion has an amplitude of 1.5 m. Phase angle is 0 radian. It
takes 2 sec to complete one oscillation.
(a) What is frequency and angular frequency?
(b) What is the position of the object at time 𝑡 = 0, 𝑡 = 1 sec and 𝑡 = 2 sec

Solution:
Given that,
𝑥𝑚 = 1.5 𝑚, 𝜙 =0, 𝑇 = 2 𝑠
1 1
(a) Frequency, 𝑓 = 𝑇 = 2 𝑠 = 0.5 s −1 = 0.5 ℎ𝑧
Angular frequency, 𝜔 = 2𝜋𝑓 = 2𝜋 ∗ 0.5 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠 = 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠

(b) 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑚 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
𝑎𝑡 𝑡 = 0, 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚 cos(𝜋 ∗ 0 + 0) = 1.5𝑚
𝑎𝑡 𝑡 =1 s, 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚 cos(𝜋 ∗ 1) = −1.5𝑚
𝑎𝑡 𝑡 =2 s, 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚 cos(𝜋 ∗ 2) = 1.5𝑚

Velocity of object in simple harmonic motion is

𝑑𝑥
𝑣=
𝑑𝑡
𝑑
𝑣= [𝑥 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)]
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
 𝑣 = −𝜔 𝑥𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙) … … … (3)

𝑣 = −𝜔 𝑥𝑚 √1 − cos2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)

𝑥 2
𝑣 = −𝜔 𝑥𝑚 √1 − ( )
𝑥𝑚

2 − 𝑥 2 … … … (4)
Velocity, 𝑣 = −𝜔√𝑥𝑚

Example 2:
A body in simple harmonic motion has an amplitude of 1.5 m. Phase angle is 0 radian. It
takes 2 sec to complete one oscillation.
(a) Find velocity of the body when it is (i) at equilibrium (ii) at 𝑥 = 1.5 𝑚
(b) What is the maximum speed and minimum speed of the body?

Solution:
(a) Given that,
𝑥𝑚 = 1.5 𝑚, 𝜙 = 0, 𝑇 = 2 𝑠
So, angular frequency, 𝜔 = 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
at equilibrium, 𝑥 = 0
2 − 𝑥 2 = −𝜋√1.52 − 0 = − 𝜋 𝑚/𝑠 3
velocity, 𝑣 = −𝜔√𝑥𝑚 2
at 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚
2 − 𝑥 2 = −𝜋√1.52 − 1.52 = 0
velocity, 𝑣 = −𝜔√𝑥𝑚

(b) The body gained the maximum speed at, 𝑥 = 0

2 − 𝑥 2 = 𝜋√1.52 − 0 = 𝜋 𝑚/𝑠 3
speed, 𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜔√𝑥𝑚 2

at 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚 , we get minimum speed,

2 − 𝑥 2 = 𝜋√1.52 − 1.52 = 0
𝑣𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝜔√𝑥𝑚
Acceleration of object in simple harmonic motion is

𝑑𝑣
𝑎=
𝑑𝑡

𝑑
𝑎= [−𝜔 𝑥𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)]
𝑑𝑡

𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑥𝑚 cos (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)

𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑥 … … … (5),

since, 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑚 cos (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)

This is the hallmark of simple harmonic motion:

(1) The particle’s acceleration is always opposite its displacement (hence the minus sign).

According to Newton’s second law of motion, 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎

𝐹 = 𝑚 (−𝜔2 𝑥) (Using equation 4)

𝐹 = −𝑚 𝜔2 𝑥 … … … (6)
From equation (1) and (6) we can write,

𝑘 = 𝑚 𝜔2

𝑘
𝜔=√
𝑚

Time period,
2𝜋
𝑇=
𝜔
 2𝜋
𝑇=
√𝑘
𝑚
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑘

Example 3:
A body in simple harmonic motion has an amplitude of 1.5 m. Phase angle is 0 radian. It
takes 2 sec to complete one oscillation.
(a) Find acceleration of the body when it is (i) at equilibrium (ii) at 𝑥 = 1.5 𝑚
(b) What is the maximum value of acceleration and minimum value of acceleration of
the body?
Solution:
(a) Given that,
𝑥𝑚 = 1.5 𝑚, 𝜙 = 0, 𝑇 = 2 𝑠
So, angular frequency, 𝜔 = 𝜋 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
at equilibrium, 𝑥 = 0
acceleration, 𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑥 = −𝜋 2 ∗ 0 = 0
at 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚
𝑚 3𝜋 2
acceleration, 𝑎 = −𝜔2 𝑥 = −𝜋 2 ∗ 1.5 𝑠2 = − 𝑚/𝑠 2
2

(b) The body gained the maximum value of acceleration at, 𝑥 = 1.5𝑚
𝑚 3𝜋 2
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = −𝜔2 𝑥 = −𝜋 2 ∗ 1.5 2 = − 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑠 2

at 𝑥 = 0, we get minimum value of acceleration,

𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛 = −𝜔2 𝑥 = −𝜋 2 ∗ 0 = 0

Differential Equation of object in simple harmonic motion:

From equation (1)
𝐹 = −𝑘𝑥
According to Newton’s second law of motion,
 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
We can write,
−𝑘𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎

𝑚𝑎 + 𝑘𝑥 = 0

𝑑2𝑥
𝑚 + 𝑘𝑥 = 0
𝑑𝑡 2

𝑑2𝑥 𝑘
+ 𝑥=0
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑚

𝑑2 𝑥
+ 𝜔2 𝑥 = 0 … … … (7)
𝑑𝑡 2

Equation (7) is called differential equation for simple harmonic motion.

Example 4: A 2 kg body undergoes simple harmonic motion of amplitude 3 m and period 1

s. (a) What is the magnitude of the maximum force acting on it? (b) If the oscillations are
produced by a spring, what is the spring constant?

Solution:
Given that,
𝑚 = 0.12 𝑘𝑔, 𝑥𝑚 = 3, 𝑇 = 0.20 𝑠
(a)
Force, 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎
Maximum Force, 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥
2𝜋 2
Maximum acceleration is gained at 𝑥 = 3𝑚, 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = −𝜔2 ∗ 3𝑚 = − ( 𝑇 ) ∗ 3𝑚

2𝜋 2
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = − ( ) ∗ 3𝑚/𝑠 2
1
𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = −12𝜋 2 𝑚/𝑠 2
Magnitude of the maximum acceleration, 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 12𝜋 2 𝑚/𝑠 2
Maximum Force, 𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑚𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2 ∗ 12𝜋 2 𝑁
𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 24𝜋 2 𝑁
(b)
We have,
𝑚
𝑇 = 2𝜋√
𝑘
2𝜋 2
𝑘=( ) 𝑚
𝑇
2𝜋 2
𝑘 = ( ) ∗ 2 𝑁/𝑚
1
𝑘 = 8𝜋 2 𝑁/𝑚

Energy of a Simple Harmonic Oscillator:

Let us examine the mechanical energy of a system in which a particle undergoes simple harmonic
motion. Total mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy of the particle.
1
The kinetic energy of the particle is 𝐾 = 2 𝑚𝑣 2,

where 𝑚 is the mass of the particle and 𝑣 is velocity. Velocity of a particle in simple harmonic motion
can be found from equation (3)

𝑣 = −𝜔 𝑥𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙) … … … (3)

1
The kinetic energy of the particle, 𝐾 = 2 𝑚 [−𝜔 𝑥𝑚 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)]2

1 2
, 𝐾 = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥𝑚 sin2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
2

1 2
𝐾 = 𝑘 𝑥𝑚 sin2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
2
𝑘
Since 𝜔2 = 𝑚

1
The potential energy of the particle is 𝑈 = 2 𝑘𝑥 2 ,

where 𝑘 is a constant and 𝑥 is the displacement of particle in simple harmonic motion.

Displacement of a particle in simple harmonic motion can be found from equation (2)

𝑥 = 𝑥𝑚 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙) … … … (2),

1
The potential energy of the particle, 𝑈 = 2 𝑘𝑥 2 ,

1
𝑈= 𝑘[𝑥𝑚 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)]2
2
1 2
𝑈= 𝑘𝑥 cos 2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
2 𝑚

Total mechanical energy, 𝐸 = 𝐾 + 𝑈

1 2
1 2
𝐸 = 𝑘 𝑥𝑚 sin2(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙) + 𝑘𝑥𝑚 cos2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)
2 2

1 2 [sin2 (𝜔𝑡
𝐸 = 𝑘 𝑥𝑚 + 𝜙) + cos2 (𝜔𝑡 + 𝜙)]
2

1 2
𝐸= 𝑘 𝑥𝑚 … … … (8)
2

Since for any angle 𝛼,

cos 2 𝛼 + sin2 𝛼 = 1

Equation (8) shows that the mechanical energy of a simple harmonic oscillator is indeed
constant and independent of time and displacement. It depends on the amplitude 𝑥𝑚 and
the constant 𝑘.
Figure 2: Potential energy U(x), kinetic energy K(x), and mechanical energy E as
functions of position x for a harmonic oscillator with amplitude 𝑥𝑚 .

Figure 3: Potential energy U(t), kinetic energy K(t), and mechanical energy
E as functions of time t for a harmonic oscillator.
Spring-mass system:
A 2 kg block connected to a light spring for which the force constant is 5.00 N/m is free to
oscillate on a frictionless, horizontal surface. The block is displaced 0.5 m from equilibrium
and released from rest.
(a) Find (i) amplitude, (ii) total energy of the the system.
(b) Calculate the time period of oscillation.
(c) Find (i) potential energy (ii) kinetic energy of the system at 𝑥 =0.2 m and add them
to find total energy at 𝑥 = 0.2𝑚

Solution:
Given that,
Mass, 𝑚 = 2 𝑘𝑔, force constant, 𝑘 = 5 𝑁/𝑚
(a)
(i) Amplitude of oscillation 𝑥𝑚 = 0.5𝑚
1 2
(ii) Total energy of the system, 𝐸 = 2 𝑘𝑥𝑚

1
𝐸= ∗ 5 ∗ (0.5)2 𝐽
2
5
𝐸= 𝐽
8
(b)

𝑚
Time period of oscillation, 𝑇 = 2𝜋 √ 𝑘

2
𝑇 = 2𝜋 √ 𝑠𝑒𝑐
5

(c)
1
At 𝑥 =0.2 m, potential energy, 𝑈 = 2 𝑘𝑥 2

1
𝑈= ∗ 5 ∗ (0.2)2 𝐽
2

1
Kinetic energy at 𝑥 =0.2 m, 𝐾 = 𝑚𝑣 2
2

1
𝐾= 𝑚𝑣 2
2
 2
1
𝐾 = 𝑚 [ −𝜔√𝑥2𝑚 − 𝑥2 ]
2
1
𝐾 = 𝑚 𝜔2 (𝑥2𝑚 − 𝑥2 )
2
1
𝐾 = 𝑘(𝑥2𝑚 − 𝑥2 )
2
1
𝐾= ∗ 5 ∗ (0.52 − 0.22 ) 𝐽
2

Total energy at 𝑥 =0.2 m,

𝐸 =𝐾+𝑈
1 1
𝐸 = [ ∗ 5 ∗ (0.52 − 0.22 ) + ∗ 5 ∗ (0.2)2 ] 𝐽
2 2
1
𝐸 = [ ∗ 5 ∗ (0.52 )] 𝐽
2
5
𝐸= 𝐽
8
Which is same as found in (a).