Simple Harmonic Motion…an introduction.

• A periodic (repeating) motion that is the result of a restoring force which is proportional to the object’s displacement from rest position.

• A restoring force always pushes/pulls toward the rest position (equilibrium).

• One complete oscillation of an object undergoing periodic motion; when an object undergoing periodic motion has returned to its initial state (position and velocity), it has completed one cycle.

Cycle

• The time it takes for an object in SHM to undergo one complete cycle.• Symbol: T• Units: seconds, minutes, days, etc.

Period

• The number of cycles that occur per unit of time (usually per second).• Symbol: f• Units: hertz (Hz), sec-1, rev/sec, etc.• T and f are inverses of one another.

FREQUENCY

f1

TT1

f

• The maximum displacement of an object from its equilibrium position.• Symbol: A• Units: meters, cm, mm, nm, km, etc.

Amplitude

1 amplitude

1 amplitude

1 amplitude 1 amplitude

During one cycle, an object in SHM travels a total distance equal to 4 times its amplitude.