PHY 104:

General Physics IV Concept

and worked examples on
Simple Harmonic Motion
 SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
(SHM)
A vibration or oscillation is in general any motion which repeats itself at regular
intervals. A familiar example is the simple pendulum in which a small mass at the
end of a string is suspended from a point moves to and fro. In the equilibrium
position, the mass hangs straight down, but when slightly displaced from this
position, it does not simply return to this equilibrium position point, but instead
swings to and for in a regular, repetitive manner. Thus, the essential characteristics
of such oscillatory motion is the regularity and repetition of motion.
DEFINITION: Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is the periodic motion of a body or
particle along a straight line such that the acceleration of the body is directed
towards a fixed point (or center of motion) and is also proportional to its
displacement from that point.
Examples
There are many examples of simple Harmonic Motions. Such as:
1. The motion of a loaded test tube oscillating in a liquid
2. The motion of a body suspended from a spiral spring
3. The beating of the heart
4. The motion of a child’s swing
[Link] motion the prongs of a surrounding tuning fork
[Link] motion of a diving board in a swimming pool
[Link] motion of the pistons in a gasoline engine
[Link] motion of the pendulum of a clock
[Link] motion of the balance wheel of a watch
[Link] motion of the strings in a musical instrument e.g. guitar
a. Motion of a simple b. Motion of mass
Pendulum suspended from spring
c. Motion of loaded test
tube in liquid
 SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION FROM CIRCULAR MOTION
We can study simple Harmonic Motion with a geometric construction called a
reference circle.

Simple Harmonic motion from

circular motion
Consider the motion of a particle, P, moving round a reference circle with center
C and diameter BD and PZ as shown in figure above.
Let the particle move with a uniform speed V round the circle of radius
CZ=CY=A. The angular velocity, w, of the radius vector CP is related to the speed
V of the particle by the equation:
V = ωA -------------------------------------------(i)
Let us draw a perpendicular from P to the diameter YZ to meet YZ at Q. Q is
called the projection of P upon the diameter YZ. As P moves round the circle, Q
moves to and fro along YZ, being momentarily at rest at Y and Z and moving
with maximum speed as it passes through C the center of the path YZ.
Thus, the motion of Q along the diameter YZ is simple Harmonic Motion which
the particle P moves with a constant speed V
From the figure above, we see that
X = A cosƟ ---------------------------------------(ii)
Where x is the horizontal distance of the particle P from the center C at that
point in time. As the particle p moves from Z through B, Y, D and back to Z (i.e.
round the circle) the angle swept through by the radius vector from Z to P
varies from 0o at Z to 90o at B, to 180o at Y, to 270o at D and to 360o or 0o at Z.
Cos o varies from 1 to 0 to -1 to 0 and to 1 as x varies from the value A to O and
to O to A again. Hence, the value of x, the horizontal displacement from the
central C, varies from the value A to –A or we can say –A < x < A.
The maximum value of x has the value A and is known as the amplitude of the
motion.
 SOME TERMS USED IN SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
Amplitude: Amplitude (A) of a simple harmonic motion is the maximum displacement of
the body performing simple harmonic motion from its equilibrium or central position C
Period: The period (T) is defined as the total time taken by a vibrating body to make one
complete revolution or cycle about a reference point i.e. T=t/n
Where t= time and n=no. of completed cycles
Frequency: Frequency (f) is the number of complete revolutions per second made by a
vibrating body i.e. f=n/t
Since the time for one complete revolution is the period and the number of
revolutions per unit time n/t is f, it is easy to see that:
f=1/T -------------- (iii)
i.e. the frequency is the reciprocal of the period. The SI unit of frequency is Hertz (Hz)
 SPEED AND ACCELERATION OF
SHM
We note from the reference circle above that as the particle P moves round the circle, it
sweeps at an angle of 360o (or 2π radius) in the time T, the period of motion. The rate of change
of an angle o with time is known as the angular velocity, w
Angular velocity is defined by:
ω = angle turned through by the body
Time taken
ω = o/t --------- (iv)
Thus,
o = ωt ---------- (v)
This is similar to the relation:
Distance = uniform velocity x time
S= vt or v=s/t
Formation in a straight line.
The angle o is measured in radius (rad) and since 2π rad = 360o, we have from w=o/t that the
As the angle o in figure above is changing with time so is the arc length s=ZP
changing with time. By definition, o in radians = s/r and hence
S=ro -------- (vi)
Where r = A = radius of the circle. The angular velocity is given by
ω=o/t =(s/r)/t
But s/t = v, the linear velocity of the particle. Hence, w=v.(1/r) or
V= wr = wA -------- (vii)
Hence linear speed equals the product of the angular speed and the radius or
amplitude of motion
Solved Examples
1. A girl ties a stone to the end of a string which she then whirls above head round a
circular path of radius 15cm. If the stone makes 20 oscillations in 10 seconds, calculate
the angular and linear speeds of the stone.
Solution
1 complete oscillation = 3600 = 2πrad.
20 complete oscillations = (360 x20)0 = 2π x 20 rad
Angular Speed, ω= = rad/s
= 4πrad/s
Linear Speed, V = ωA = 4π x 15 cm/s
= 60πcm/s
2. A spring makes 60 revolutions in 15 secs. Find the period and the frequency of the
vibration.
Solution
T= = = 0.25
The linear velocity V at any point, Q whose distance from the central point is x, is given by:
V = ω -----------(viii)

The maximum velocity Vm corresponds to the velocity at x=0, that is, the velocity at the central point of
center of motion
Hence,
Vm = wA
Thus, the maximum velocity of SHM occurs at the center of motion (x=0) while the maximum velocity
occurs at the extreme position of motion (x=A)
We can then obtain an expression relating linear acceleration and angular velocity using differential
calculus. From equation (ii)
X = A coso
But from equation (v) we have that o = wt
Hence,
X = A cos wt ----------- (ix)
Where x is the displacement at time t of the particle from the center of motion, w is the angular
speed and A is the amplitude of motion. Differentiating equation (ix) with respect to t, we have:
- ωAsinωt ------------------------------(x)
But rate of change in displacement with time, t
Linear velocity, V
V = - ωAsinωt
To obtain acceleration, we differentiate V with respect to t, and hence
a = - ω2Acosωt ----------------------- (xi)
= -ω2x
Acceleration, a = -ω2x---------------------------(xii)
The negative signs in equation (xii) indicates that the acceleration a, is directed
towards the center of motion while the displacement x is measured from that
point outwards. Hence, the essential feature of SHM is that the acceleration and
hence, the force tending to restore the body to its central position are always in a
direction opposite to the displacement of the body from the central or
equilibrium position.
Equation (xii) which gives the relation between the linear acceleration and angular velocity can also be
obtained by considering the motion of the body P around the circle in figure above. For such a body
we have that the centripetal acceleration a, is along PC and its value is given by:
Centripetal Acceleration = =
But from equation (vii), v = -ωA
Hence acceleration a = = = - ω2A

The component of this centripetal acceleration along CZ is given by

ax = ---------(xiii)
The negative sign indicates that acceleration is always directed inwards towards C while the
displacement X is measured outwards from C
From equation (iv), ω =
When t=T, the period of SHM or the time for one cycle, Ɵ = 3600 or 2π radians.

Hence: ω =
Or T = ------------------(xiv)
Similarly, the frequency, f is given by f = =
Solved Example
1. A body vibrates in simple harmonic motion with frequency of 50Hz and an
amplitude of 4cm. Find
(a)The period
(b)The acceleration at the middles and at the end of the path of oscillation
(c)The velocities at the middle and at the end of the path of oscillation
(d)The velocity and acceleration at a distance of 2cm from the center of
oscillation.

Solution
T = = 0.02s
Acceleration, a = - ω2x
At midpoint of vibration, i.e at c, x=0
: a = - ω2 x 0 = 0
At the end of path, x = amplitude = 4cm
: a = - ω2 x 4

But ω = 2πf = 2π x 50 = 100π

a = (100π)2 x 4 = 4 x 104 π2 cm/s2
= 4 x 102π2 m/s2 = 4 x 103 m/s2
V=ω
At x =0, V = ωA = 100π x m = 4πm
At x = A, V = ω = 0
V=ω
V = 100π cm/s
= 200π cm/s
= 2π cm/s
a = -ω2x = 104 π2 x
2 2
 ANGULAR ACCELERATION
Angular acceleration (a) of a body is the time rate of change of its angular velocity. It is
expressed in radians per second (rad/s2).
If the angular velocity of a body changes uniformly from w o to wt in t seconds, then
angular
acceleration (α) is given by:
α=
α=
but, from equation (vii), w = v/r or v = rw
hence, α =
=
Where a is the linear acceleration of the body
Therefore, a = αr -------- (xvi)
Linear acceleration (a) equals the product of angular acceleration and the radius (or the
 ENERGY OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION (SHM)
When the motion of an object of an object in SHM, there is always a restraining
force tending to return the body to its central or equilibrium position. Since
force and displacement are involved, it follows that work and energy are
involved in SHM.
At any instant of the motion, the system may contain some energy as kinetic
energy (KE) or potential (PE) or both. The total energy (KE + PE) for such a body
performing SHM is always conserved although it may change from between PE
and KE
Energy transformation of a simple
pendulum
For simple pendulum in fig. above, the energy at the extreme positions R and Q is all PE and is
equal to mgh. Where m is the mass of bob, h is its height above the lowest level and g is the
acceleration due to gravity. At C, h and PE = 0, but velocity (v m) of the moving bob is maximum.
Hence, the KE is maximum and equals to ½ mvm2 at C.
From the conservation of energy principle, the total energy in the system must be constant.
Therefore, maximum PE = maximum KE = (PE + KE) at any instant.
Hence, mgh =
or Vm = ---------------------(xvii)
At any instant of motion of simple pendulum:
Total energy = mgh + = mghm =
Where hm = maximum height attained
Vm = maximum velocity attained
When a mass suspended from the end of a spring is stretched vertically downward and
released, it oscillates in a simple harmonic motion. During this motion, the force tending to
restore the spring to its equilibrium position is simply the elastic restoring force which is given by:
F = - ky
Where, k is the force constant of the springs. The total work (w) done in
stretching the spring a distance y, is given by:
W = average force x displacement
= =
Thus, the maximum total energy stored in the spring is given by :
W = KA2 --------------------------(xviii)
Where, A is the amplitude of motion or maximum displacement from
equilibrium position. This maximum energy is conserved throughout the
motion of the system.
At any stage of the oscillation, the total energy is:
W = KA2 = + ----------(xix)
Where, v is the velocity of the suspended mass at a point y from the
equilibrium position.
 Period of vibration of loaded spring
Hence from equation (xix) we have :
V2 = (A2-y2)
V2 = -----------------------(xx)
The constant K is obtained from Hooke’s Law in which:
F = mg = Ke
Where e is the extension produced in the spring by a mass of m. But from
equation (viii) we have that:
V=
By comparing equation (xx) with equation (viii) we see that:
ω=
Hence the period (T) is given by:
T= = 2π ------------------------------(xxi)
The period therefore depends only on the mass and the force or elastic
constant, k. It depends on the amplitude of motion or on the value of g at the
point.
The above discussion has assumed that the mass of the spring is negligible. In
actual fact, the spring has a mass M0. Hence, the value of the period T, is given
by:
T= 2π
Solved Examples
1. A body of mass 20g is suspended from the end of a spiral spring whose
force constant is 0.4Nm-1.
The body is set into a simple harmonic motion with amplitude 0.2. Calculate:
(a) the period of the motion
(b) The frequency of the motion
(c) The angular speed
(d) The total energy
(e) The maximum velocity of the motion
(f) The maximum acceleration.
Solution
(a) T = =
= = 0.447πs
(b) f = = = 0.71 Hz
(c)ω = 2πf = 2π x 0.71 = 4.46 rad/s
(d)Total energy, E =
x 0.4 x (0.2)2 = 0.008J
(d)Let maximum velocity of motion be Vm ,then
= = 0.008
Vm 2 = = 0.8
Vm = = 0.89 m/s

Or from V=ωA = 4.46 x 0.2 = 0.89 m/s

The maximum velocity occurs at the ends of the midpoint of motion
(e)Maximum acceleration, a is given by :
a = -ω2A
a = (4.46)2 x 0.2
= 3.98 m/s2
Maximum acceleration occurs at the end of the path of motion where the restoring force is at
2. A mass of 0.6kg is suspended from one end of a vertical spiral spring. If the force constant of the
spring is 30N/m, calculate the extension produced in the spring assuming that Hooke’s Law holds.
The mass is now pulled down a distance of 6cm and released. Calculate:
(a)The period of oscillation
(b)The maximum potential energy of the spring
(c)The kinetic energy of the mass when it is 3cm from the center of oscillation. (g = 10m/s2)
Solution
From Hooke’s Law,
F = mg = ke
Where, e is the extension and k is the force constant of the spring.
e = = = 0.2m
(a)T = = = 0.89s
(b)Maximum P.E = K
Where A is the maximum extension of the spring
A = (0.2 + 0.03)m = 0.23m
Maximum P.E = K= x 30 x 0.23 x 0.23
(c)K.E when mass is 3cm from centre of oscillation is given by
K.E = = (r2 -x2)
ω = = = 7.07
r = 6cm =0.06m
x = 3cm = 0.03
K.E = x 0.6 x 7.07 x 7.07 x (0.062 – 0.032)
K.E = 0.04J
Practice Exercise
1. The amplitude of a particle executing simple harmonic motion is 5cm, while its
angular frequency is 10rad/s. Calculate the maximum acceleration of the particle.
2. A particle makes 240r.p.m on a circle of 2m radius. Find its period, angular
velocity, linear velocity and its acceleration.
3. An object moving with simple harmonic motion has an amplitude of 5cm and a
frequency of 50Hz. Calculate the:
(a)Period of oscillation
(b)Acceleration at the middle and end of the oscillation
(c)Velocity at the middle and end of the oscillation
4. A 10kg mass is suspended from the end of s spring and released. If the spring
oscillates in simple harmonic motion with a period of 0.5s, find the energy given
to the 10kg mass if the amplitude of oscillation is 2cm