PHY 210

CHAPTER 3:
Periodic Motion

1
 Learning Outcome
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to
describe the physics terms and fundamental
theory of:
Simple Harmonic Motion
(amplitude, frequency, displacement, velocity,
acceleration)
Conservation of Energy in SHM
Simple Pendulum and Spring
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 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:

Horizontal spring
oscillation
Simple Pendulum Vertical spring
oscillation 3
 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

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 Horizontal Spring

(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).
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 Horizontal Spring

• So, the force exerted by the spring depends on the

displacement according to equation below,

𝐹 =− 𝑘𝑥 Hooke’s Law

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

A B C

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 Horizontal Spring

𝐹 =− 𝑘𝑥
• 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.

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 Horizontal Spring

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.

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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.

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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,
x 0  mg
k

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 Vertical Spring

Example
When a family of four with a total mass of 200 kg step into their
1200 kg car, the car’s springs compress 3.0 cm.
a) What is the spring constant of the car’s spring? Assuming they
act as a single spring.
b) How far will the car lower if loaded with 300 kg rather than 200
kg?

(a)

(b)

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 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 12
 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

Fnet   x
Fnet   kx
where

k = proportionality constant

√
= mω2
𝑘
Thus, it can be shown that,  
k 2 𝜔=
m 𝑚 13
Kinematics in SHM

time

14
 Kinematics in SHM
Vertical position versus time:

Period T

Period T 15
 Kinematics in SHM

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
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 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
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 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) 18
 = Angular frequency (rads-1)
 Kinematics in SHM

Tutorial
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
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 Kinematics in SHM

Tutorial
2. An oscillator undergoes SHM described by equation,
x = 1.60sin(1.30t – 0.75)
Determine the amplitude (A), angular velocity (ω) and phase
constant (ϕ).

The general equation,

)
Hence,
A = 1.60 m
Ω = 1.30 rad s-1
Φ = -0.75 rad
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 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 d
v  A sin(t   )   A 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 21
 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   
 A Hence, v  A x 2 2

2 x 
2
v   A  A  2 
2

A  22
 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 d
a  A cos(t   )   A 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,
2
𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴 𝜔
• Also, as

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 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 − 𝒙𝟐 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 25
amax = A2
 Kinematics in SHM

Tutorial
1. A block of mass m = 680 g is fastened to a spring whose spring constant k = 65
Nm-1. The block is pulled a distance x = 11 cm from its equilibrium position and
released from rest.
a) What force does the spring exert on the block just before it is released?
b) What are the angular frequency, the frequency and the period of oscillation?
c) What is the amplitude of oscillation?
d) What are the maximum speed and acceleration of the block?

( a ) From Hooke' s law, F  kx (c) Amplitude  0.11 m

 (65)(0.11)  7.2 N
(d ) v max  A  (9.78)(0.11)  1.1 ms 1
k 65
( b)     9.78 rads 1
m 0.68 a max   2 A  9.782 (0.11)  11 ms 1
 9.78
f    1.56 Hz
2 2
1 1
T   0.64 s 26
f 1.56
 Energy in SHM
Potential energy, U
• To stretch or compressed, work has to be done.
• The potential energy of a spring is given by,
1 2 2
𝑈= 𝑘 𝑥 𝑘=𝑚 𝜔
2

• The potential energy in term of time, t is given by

1 2 2
𝑈= 𝑚 𝜔 𝑥
2
1
U  m 2 A2 sin 2 t    Where,
2 x  A sin t   

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 Energy in SHM

Kinetic energy, K
The kinetic energy of the object in SHM is
given by
1 2 and
K  mv v   A2  x 2
2

m 2 A2  x 2 
1
K
2

The kinetic energy in term of time, t is given by

1
K  m 2 A2 cos 2 t   
2 Where,
v  A cos(t   )

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 Energy in SHM

Conservation of Energy in SHM

• The total mechanical energy of system in SHM is:

1 2 1 2
E  mv  kx
2 2
– Where E is the sum of the kinetic and potential energies.

• The total mechanical energy will be conserved, as we are

assuming the system is frictionless.

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Energy in SHM

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 Energy in SHM

 If the mass is at the limits of

its motion, the energy is all
potential, U.

 If the mass is at the equilibrium

point, the energy is all kinetic, K.

 We know that the potential

energy at the turning points is:

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 Energy in SHM

The total mechanical energy is, therefore

E=
And we can write (using the conservation of energy principle):

This can be solved for the velocity as a function of position:

where

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 Energy in SHM

Tutorial
1. A spring stretches 0.150 m when a 0.300 kg mass is gently lowered on it.
The spring is then set up horizontally with the 0.300 kg mass resting on a
frictionless tables. The mass is pulled so that the spring is stretched
0.100 m from the equilibrium point and released from rest.
Determine:
a) the spring stiffness constant, k ()

b) the amplitude of the horizontal oscillation, A

c) the magnitude of the maximum velocity, Vmax ()

d) the magnitude of the velocity, V when the mass is 0.050 m from

equilibrium. )

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Solution
a)

b) =0.1 m

√ √𝑘 2 19.62
c)
2 −1
𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴= (0.1) =0.809𝑚𝑠
𝑚 0.3

d)

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 Energy in SHM

Tutorial
2. Find the mechanical energy of a block-spring system having a
spring constant of 1.3 N/cm and an oscillation amplitude of
2.4 cm.

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 Energy in SHM

Tutorial
3. When the displacement in SHM is one-half the
amplitude A, what fraction of the total energy is
a) Kinetic energy and,
b) Potential energy?

a) b)
Given

Where

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 Energy in SHM

Tutorial
4. Starting with x = A cos ωt.
The displacement of an object is described by the following
equation, where x is in meters and t is in seconds:
x= (0.30 m) cos (8.0t).
Determine the oscillating object’s:
a)Amplitude 𝐴=0.30 𝑚
b) Frequency 𝜔 8
𝑓= = =1.272 𝐻𝑧
2 𝜋 2𝜋
c)Period 1 1
𝑇= = =0.786 𝑠
d)Maximum speed 𝑓 1.272 −1
𝑣 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴 𝜔=( 0.3 ) ( 8.0 ) =2.4 𝑚𝑠
e)Maximum acceleration 2 2 −2
𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴 𝜔 =( 0.3 ) (8.0) =19.2𝑚𝑠

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 SIMPLE PENDULUM AND SPRING
SIMPLE PENDULUM

A simple pendulum is a particle attached to one end of a

massless cord of length L. It is able to swing freely and
without friction from the other end of the cord.

Its frequency:
g
  2f 
L

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 Simple Pendulum and Spring

θ mg cos θ
θ mg

Fr
FT
PEmax = mg h (-mg sinθ)

KE =0 Vector
Diagram

h
Fr
Restoring
Force mg cosθ
(-mg sinθ) mg
KEmax = ½ mv2
PE =0 39
 Simple Pendulum and Spring

We assume that the cord does not stretch, and its mass is negligible.

 In order to be in SHM, the

θ
mg cos θ restoring force, Fr must be
θ mg proportional to the –ve of the
L displacement.
Fr
FT (-mg sinθ)
 Here we have:

Vector
Diagram
𝑭 𝒓 =− 𝒎𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽

Fr  Which is proportional to sin θ

Restoring and not to θ itself.
Force
(mg sinθ) mg mg cosθ
x
40
 Simple Pendulum and Spring

However, if the angle is small, sin θ ≈ θ.

41
 Simple Pendulum and Spring

Therefore, for small angles, we have:

𝐹 ≈ − 𝑚𝑔𝜃
, where

As
The period and frequency are:

m
For T  2 , so
spring
k
For simple
pendulum
1
f  , so
T
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SHORT PENDULUMS LONG PENDULUMS
HAVE A SHORT HAVE A LONG
PERIOD OF PERIOD OF
OSCILLATION OSCILLATION

l
T  2π
g
43
STRONGER GRAVITY FIELDS RESULT IN SHORTER PERIODS
OF OSCILLATION

GRAVITY ON EARTH GRAVITY ON MOON

9.8 M/S2 1.6 M/S2

l
T  2π
g
44
THE END
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