PHY210

CHAPTER 3
PERIODIC MOTION (SHM)

PREPARED BY SITI SUMAIYAH SHEIKH ABDUL AZIZ

 LESSON
CONTENT Periodic Motion (CLO 1, CLO 2,
CLO3)

3.1 Simple Harmonic Motion

(amplitude, frequency, displacement,
velocity, acceleration)
 At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

Write and apply Hooke’s Law for objects moving with simple
harmonic motion.

Write and apply formulas for finding the frequency f, period

Lesson Outcome T, velocity v, or acceleration a in terms of displacement x or
time t.

Understand the concept and know to apply formula of energy

in the Simple Harmonic Oscillator

Understand the concept of Simple Pendulum and spring

INTRODUCTION

• A TRAMPOLINE exerts a restoring force on the

jumper that is directly proportional to the average
force required to displace the mat. Such restoring
forces provide the driving forces necessary for
objects that oscillate with simple harmonic motion.

Photo by Mark Tippens

 Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)
Definition
An object is said to undergone SHM when:
i. The motion repeats itself at regular interval between two unchanged positions.
ii. The displacement of the object from the origin changes sinusoidally with time.

Example:
 Periodic Motion
Simple periodic motion is that motion in which a body moves back and forth over a fixed path,
returning to each position and velocity after a definite interval of time.

1 Period, T, is the time for

f  one complete oscillation.
T
(seconds,s)
Amplitude
A Frequency, f, is the number
of complete oscillations per
m second. Hertz (s-1)
 Simple Harmonic Motion, SHM
Simple harmonic motion is periodic motion in the absence of friction and
produced by a restoring force that is directly proportional to the displacement
and oppositely directed.

A restoring force, F, acts in

the direction opposite the
displacement of the
F
oscillating body.
x
F = -kx
m
 Horizontal Spring

(a) At equilibrium position:

• Any spring has a natural length at which it exerts no force on the mass, m

• The position of the mass at this point is called equilibrium position

8
 Cont.

(b)
When the spring is
stretched (move to right)
+ve x

(c)
When the spring is
compressed (move to left)
-ve x

• The spring exerts a force on the mass that acts in the direction of
returning the mass to the equilibrium position, which is called as
restoring force, F.
• Displacement is measured from the equilibrium point (x = 0). 9
 Horizontal Spring

• So, the force exerted by the spring depends on

the displacement according to equation below,

Hooke’s Law

Where:
k is the spring stiffness/ spring constant
x is the displacement from its equilibrium position.

10
 Cont.

The minus sign on the force indicates that the restoring force
is always in the direction opposite to the displacement, x.
The force is not constant, so the acceleration is not constant
either.

11
Oscillating Horizontal Spring

a) When uniform spring is initially

compress over a distance, x = -A, the
spring exert a force (F) on the mass
that pushes it toward the equilibrium
position.

b) Then, the spring is released, it passes

the equilibrium position with
considerable speed. As the mass
reaches the equilibrium position, the
F on it decreases to zero BUT its
speed at this point is a maximum,
vmax.
12
 Horizontal Spring

c) As the mass move farther to the right, the

force on it acts to slow it down, and it
stops momentarily at x=A.
d) Then, the spring begin moving back in
the opposite direction, accelerating until
it reach zero speed at the original starting
point, x =-A.
e) It then repeats the motion, moving back
and forth, between x = A and x= -A.

13
 Horizontal Spring

p u sh es t o w a rd s t h e
Fspring
ib r iu m po s it io n, and
equ il
in th e d ire c ti o n opposite
always
ent, x.
to the displacem

14
Vertical Spring

If the spring is hung vertically, the

only change is the equilibrium
position, which is at the point where
the spring force equals the
gravitational force.

 F  0  mg  kx 0

So,
x0  mg
k

15
 Variables in SHM
• Displacement (x) : the distance travelled by the mass (measured from the equilibrium point)

Unit: metre (m)

• Amplitude (A): maximum displacement

Unit: metre (m)

• A cycle: a full to- and fro- motion (from x = -A to x = A)

• Period (T): time taken for one complete cycle.

Unit: second (s)

• Frequency (f): the number of complete cycles in one second.

Unit: Hertz (Hz) or cycle s-1 or s-1

𝜔
𝜔=2 𝜋 𝑓 𝑓=
2𝜋 16
 Force Law in SHM
An object that undergoes SHM obeys Newton’s Second Law of Motion.

Fnet = ma

From equation, a = -2x

Substitute, Fnet = m(-2x)
= -(m2)x → Equation (i)

From equation (i), since m2 is a constant it can be deduced that

𝑭 𝒏𝒆𝒕 ∝− 𝒙
where

k = proportionality constant

√
= mω2
𝒌 𝑘
Thus, it can be shown that,
⇒𝝎 =
𝟐
𝜔=
𝒎 𝑚 17
Kinematics in SHM

18
Kinematics in SHM

19
 Kinematics in SHM

SHM with NO initial phase angle/ phase constant of

• If the starting point is at equilibrium position (no phase angle, at t = 0 s), the
equation can be written as

x  A sin t 
Take Note!
Make sure your
Displacement (x) calculator in ‘rad’

Time (t)

-A
20
 Kinematics in SHM

SHM with initial phase angle/ phase constant of

• The motion does not start at ZERO point

The general equation for displacement as a function of time in SHM is given by,

x  A sin(.t  0 ) Eq. 1
where
A = Amplitude = Maximum displacement from the equilibrium position (m)
(t + ) = Phase of motion at any time t (rad)
 = Phase of motion at t = 0 s (Phase constant) 21
 = Angular frequency (rads-1)
 Kinematics in SHM

Example
1. An oscillator undergoes SHM described by equation,

x = 3.0 sin(0.5t)

(a) Determine the amplitude (A), angular velocity (ω), and period (T) of the system.

(b) Draw the displacement vs time graph of the system.

Displacement, x (m)
The general equation,

) 3.0

Hence,
A = 3.0 m 0 Time, t (s)
ω = 0.5 rad s-1 3.2 6.3 9.5 12.7
T = 6.3 s
-3.0
22
 Kinematics in SHM

Velocity of SHM
• The velocity of an object undergoing SHM is obtained by differentiating
displacement equation with respect to t.
dx
v
dt
d
v A sin(t   )   A d sin(t   ) 
dt dt

S.I. unit: m s1 v  A cos(t   ) Eq. 2

• The maximum velocity, vmax occurs when cos(t+)=1 hence

vmax  A
• If  = 0 , equation becomes, v  A cos t

√
• Also, as
𝑘
𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴
𝑚 23
 Kinematics in SHM

SHM – Relationship between velocity, v and

displacement, x.
From Eq. 1 & 2,,
v  A cos(t   )
x  A sin t   
x
sin t    
A
From the trigonometry identical

sin 2   cos 2   1 and   t   

cost     1  sin 2 t   

By substituting equations (3) and (2) into equation (1), thus

2
x
v  A 1    2 2
 A Hence, v  A x
2 x2 
2
v   A  A  2 
A  24
 Kinematics in SHM

Acceleration of SHM
• The acceleration of an object undergoing SHM is obtained by differentiating
velocity equation with respect to t.
dv
a and v  A cost   
dt
d
a A cos(t   )   A d cos(t   ) 
dt dt

a   A 2 sin(t   ) S.I. unit: m s2

• If  = 0 , equation becomes, a   A 2 sin t

• The maximum acceleration, amax given as,

𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴 𝜔2
• Also, as

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General equation of SHM: x, v, and a as a
function of time
For the graph shown ϕ = 0

x  A cos(t   ),

v   A sin(t   )

  A cos(t    ),
2
2
a   A cos(t   )
2 
  A sin(t    ).
2
 Kinematics in SHM

Summary
Equations of Motion (SHM)
x = A sin wt Displacement of time

v = ωA cos wt Velocity of time

a = - ω2A sin ωt Acceleration of time

𝒗=± 𝝎 √ 𝑨 − 𝒙
𝟐 𝟐
velocity
a = -ω2x acceleration
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 Kinematics in SHM

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

x(t) = [A]sin(t) x(t) = [A]cos(t)

v(t) = [A]cos(t)
OR v(t) = -[A]sin(t)

a(t) = -[A2]sin(t) a(t) = -[A2]cos(t)

x
x
A
xmax = A A

t
0 vmax = A 0
t

-A -A
amax = A2 28