Energy in Simple

Harmonic
Motion
 “
To study the energetic components of simple
harmonic motion, we can assume that there are
no friction or friction forces (non-conservative
forces) and therefore the mechanical energy,
composed mainly of kinetic energy and elastic
potential energy, remains constant.

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 Simple Harmonic
Motion: Crash Course
Physics
https://youtu.be/jxstE6A_CYQ
?si=oQdqnarjouTmbp-e

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 Energy graphs for
simple harmonic
motion | Simple
harmonic motion
https://youtu.be/zJtC
mpH--70

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 Kinetic energy in M.A.S.

▸ The kinetic energy in a simple harmonic motion at a point is associated with the
speed that the body has at that point.
▸ Remember that the velocity in a harmonic oscillator is maximum at the equilibrium
position and 0 at the extremes.
The kinetic energy Ec in a simple harmonic motion varies periodically between a
minimum value at the extremes and a maximum value at the equilibrium position. Its
value can be expressed as a function of elongation x or as a function of time t.

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Where:

Kinetic energy, Ec and its unit of measure in the SI is the Joule (J).

Amplitude, A: Maximum elongation and its unit of measurement in the SI is the meter (m).

Angular frequency, angular velocity or pulsation, ω: Represents the rate of change of the
phase of the movement. This is the number of periods within 2π seconds. Its unit of
measurement in the SI is the radian per second (rad / s).

Initial phase, φ0: It is the angle that represents the initial state of vibration, that is, the
elongation x of the body at the instant t = 0. Its unit of measurement in the SI is the radian (rad).

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Where:

k: Constant of m.a.s and its unit of measurement in the SI is the Newton per meter (N / m).

The maximum value of kinetic energy is and the minimum value is 0.

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 Graph of kinetic energy as a function of position

The kinetic energy in a simple

harmonic oscillator reaches its
highest (maximum) value at the
equilibrium position and its lowest
(minimum) value at the extremes.

Graph of kinetic energy as a function of time

The kinetic energy is minimal

when the movement begins,
repeating in T / 2 intervals.

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The kinetic energy of a body is given by the expression:

The speed in simple harmonic motion is given as a function of time by the expression:

Substituting the second in the first expression, we have:

On the other hand, the speed in simple harmonic motion is given as a function of the elongation
by the expression

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Substituting this in the first expression, we have:

Note that we have implicitly considered the expression for the elongation x as a function of
the cosine, since the velocity v appears as a function of the sine. That is why the expression
of kinetic energy as a function of time is in the form of a sine. If we had chosen the sine as
the expression of the elongation x we would arrive at an expression of the complementary
kinetic energy, as a function of the cosine. In either case, when you solve a specific
problem, the results must be the same regardless of the expression you choose don't forget
the initial phase φ0.

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 Potential energy in M.A.S.

The restoring or elastic force is a conservative force. The work done by the conservative forces
depends only on the starting and ending points, and not on the path chosen. Therefore,
conservative forces give rise to potential energy. In this case, it is elastic potential energy, as the
responsible force is the elastic or recuperative force.
The potential energy Ep in a simple harmonic motion varies periodically between a minimum
value at the equilibrium position and a maximum value at the extremes. Its value can be expressed
as a function of elongation x or as a function of time t.

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Where:

Ep: Potential Energy and its unit of measure in the SI is the Joule (J).

A: Amplitude and its unit of measurement in the SI is the meter (m).

ω: Angular frequency and its unit of measurement in the SI is the radian per second (rad / s).

φ0: Initial phase and its unit of measurement in the SI is the radian (rad)

k: Constant of m.a.s and its unit of measurement in the SI is the Newton per meter (N / m).

The maximum value of the potential energy is and the minimum value is 0.

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Graph of potential energy as a function of position

The potential energy in a harmonic

oscillator reaches its highest (maximum)
values at the extremes of motion and its
lowest (minimum) value at the equilibrium
position.

Graph of potential energy as a function of time

The potential energy is maximum when the

movement begins, repeating in intervals of T
/ 2 s.
The work done by the recovery force to go from an initial point A to another
final point B is given by:

On the other hand, we know that the elastic force is a conservative force. The work done by a
conservative force can be expressed as a function of the potential energy difference:

Comparing the two previous expressions we can deduce that:

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On the other hand, the elongation in a simple harmonic motion is determined by:

Substituting in the expression of the potential energy, we obtain the expression of the
potential energy in the m.a.s. function of time:

Notice that we have considered the expression for the elongation x as a function of
the cosine. That is why the expression of potential energy as a function of time is in
the form of a cosine. If we had chosen the sine as the expression of the elongation x
we would arrive at an expression of the complementary potential energy, as a
function of the sine. In either case, when you solve a specific problem, the results
must be the same regardless of the expression you choose: don't forget the initial
phase φ0.

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Energy in Simple
Harmonic Motion

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The mechanical energy of a harmonic oscillator at a point is the sum of the kinetic energy
and the potential energy at that point.
The value of the mechanical energy Em in a simple harmonic motion remains constant
over time t and at any point x in the motion. It is expressed by:

From the previous expression, we can say that mechanical energy is directly proportional
to the amplitude A of the movement, its frequency f and the mass m of the oscillating body:

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 Graph of mechanical energy versus time

The mechanical energy (green color) in a

harmonic oscillator is the sum of the
kinetic energy (red color) and its
potential energy (blue color).
This implies that the mechanical energy
is always the same regardless of the
position of the body.

Graph of Mechanical Energy versus time

The mechanical energy (green color) is

always constant in time since its value is
the algebraic sum of the potential energy
(blue color) and the kinetic energy (red
color).
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 Energy in Simple
Harmonic Motion
https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=0QhSJnksswI

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Simple pendulum
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=IvEKGK
vbU7k

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