Simple Harmonic

Motion
Sinusoidal curve and circular motion
 A mass is oscillating on a spring

Position in
equal time intervals:
Model: oscillation coupled to a
wheel spinning at constant rate
Vertical position versus time:

Period T

Period T
 Sinusoidal motion

Displacement (cm)

Time (s)

Period T
 Sine function: mathematically

y=cos(x) y=sin(x)
y
1

π/2 π 3π/2 2π 5π/2 5π x

3π 7π/2 4π 9π/2

-1

2π
 Sine function: employed for
oscillations
y
1
y=sin(x)

π/2 π 3π/2 2π 5π/2 3π 7π/2 4π 9π/2 5π x

-1

Displacement y (m)
A
y= A sin(ωt)

T/2 T 2T Time t (s)

-A
 Sine function: employed for
oscillations
Displacement y (m)
A y= A sin(ωt)

T/2 T 2T Time t (s)

-A

What do we need ? 1. Maximum displacement A

2. ωT = 2π

3. Initial condition
 Sine function: employed for
oscillations
1. Maximum displacement A Amplitude A is the maximum
distance from equilibrium
2. ωT = 2π

3. Initial condition y(t=0) 2


T
Angular frequency in rad/s

Starting from equilibrium:

y=A sin(ωt)
Starting from A:
y=A cos(ωt)
 Example 1 - find y(t)
y(cm)

30
5 10 15 t(s)

Period?  2 
y (t )  15cm sin  t
T=4 s  4s 
Sine/cosine?
Where is the mass after 12 seconds?
Sine
 2 
Amplitude? y (12s )  15cm sin  12 s   15cm sin 6   0cm
 4s 
15 cm
 Example 2 – graph y(t)
 
y (t )  3cm cos  t 
 2s 
Amplitude? y(t=0)? When will the mass be at +3cm?
Period?
3cm -3cm 1s, 3s, 5s, …
2s
When will the mass be at 0?
y (cm) 0.5s, 1.5s, 2.5s, 3.5 s …

2 4 6 8 t(s)

-3
Summary
 Harmonic oscillations are sinusoidal
 Motion is repeated with a period T
 Motion occurs between a positive and
negative maximum value, named
Amplitude
 Can be described by sine/cosine
function y=A sin(ωt) or y=A cos(ωt)
 Angular frequency ω=2π/T