HARMONIC MOTION

HARMONIC MOTION
• A type of motion in which the acceleration varies directly as the displacement is known as simple harmonic
motion. The most common example is reciprocation over a straight path with the sense of the acceleration
always toward the center of the path and its magnitude directly proportional to the distance of the moving
particle from that center.
• The nature of the motion may be visualized by reference to following figure. Suppose a particle E to be moving
with uniform speed around the circumference of a semicircle of radius R, center C, and diameter AB. Another
particle P moves along the diameter AB at such a variable speed that it is at all times at the foot of a
perpendicular dropped from E to AB. When E is at A, P is at A also. If E moves with a linear speed V e the radial
line CE will turn at an angular speed equal to Ve /R.
• Call this constant angular speed w. Then ω = π/time required for the motion from A to B. Then

• Now, the displacement s = AP = AC - PC = R – R cosθ. Therefore,

• Putting θ = ωt, we get s = R (1 – cos ωt). Let Vp = Velocity of P. Then

• Since ωR = Ve, the previous equation may be written Vp = Ve sinθ. Again

Therfore

• But cosθ = CP/R. Therfore

• From this it appears that the acceleration of particle P is proportional to its distance from the center of its path.
When P is approaching C, its velocity is increasing, and when receding from C its velocity its velocity is
decreasing; that is P has its maximum velocity when it coincides with C and zero velocity when at A or B. It has
its maximum acceleration at A or B and zero acceleration when at C. The figure shows the A-s graph
corresponding to the first figure, with Ve = R; that is ω = 1 radian per unit time.
Acceleration
• The rate of change of velocity is acceleration.
Example
Which of the following represent simple harmonic motion?

(i) x = A sin ωt + B cos ωt

(ii) x = A sin ωt+ B cos 2ωt
(iii) x = A eiωt
(iv) x = A ln ωt
Solution

• (i) x = A sin ωt + B cos ωt

This differential equation is similar to the differential equation of SHM (equation 10.10).
Therefore, x = A sin ωt + B cos ωt represents SHM.
• (ii) x =A sin ωt + B cos2ωt

This differential equation is not like the differential equation of a SHM (equation 10.10).
Therefore, x = A sin ωt + B cos 2ωt does not represent SHM.

•  (iii) x=Aejωt

• This differential equation is like the differential equation of SHM (equation 10.10).
Therefore, x = A eiωt represents SHM.
  

• (iv) x = A ln ωt

• This differential equation is not like the differential equation of a SHM (equation 10.10). Therefore, x = A ln
ωt does not represent SHM.