Simple Harmonic Motion

1. What is Simple Harmonic Motion?

Simple Harmonic Motion is the Periodic and Oscillatory motion, where a particle moves around an mean position and the acceleration of the particle is directly proportional to the displacement of the particle.

2. What are Examples of Simple Harmonic Motion?

A spring-mass system (a block of mass attached to the end of the spring), a simple pendulum, a vibrating tuning fork, etc. are some examples of Simple Harmonic Motion.

3. What is Equation for Simple Harmonic Motion?

The equation for simple harmonic motion is given as:

x = A cos(ωt + φ)

Where

• x is the Displacement of the Particle from its Equilibrium Position at Time t
• A is the Amplitude
• ω is the Angular Frequency
• φ is the Initial Phase Angle

4. What is Time Period of Simple Harmonic Motion?

The time taken by the particle to complete one oscillation is the period of the SHM, and it is given by:

T = 2π/ω

where ω is the angular frequency of the motion.

5. What is Resonance in Simple Harmonic Motion?

Resonance is the phenomenon, when the frequency of external driving force matches the natural frequency of the system, causing the amplitude of the motion to increase significantly. In SHM, resonance can cause the amplitude of the oscillation to become significantly large, which can cause potential damage to the system.

6. Is it Possible for a Motion to be Oscillatory but not Simple Harmonic?

When a ball is dropped from a height onto a perfectly elastic surface, the motion of the ball is oscillatory but not simple harmonic because the restoring force, F = mg = constant.

7. What is Angular Frequency in Simple Harmonic Motion?

Angular frequency (ω), also known as radial or circular frequency, is a unit of time for measuring angular displacement. As a result, its units are degrees (or radians) per second. 

The angular frequency(ω) is given by the expression,

ω = 2π/T

Simple Harmonic Motion is a fundament concept in the study of motion, especially oscillatory motion; which helps us understand many physical phenomena around like how strings produce pleasing sounds in a musical instrument such as the sitar, guitar, violin, etc., and also, how vibrations in the membrane in drums and diaphragms in telephone and speaker system creates the precise sound. Understanding Simple Harmonic Motion is key to understanding these phenomena. 

In this article, we will grasp the concept of Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM), its examples in real life, the equation, and how it is different from periodic motion.