CHAPTER 5

SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

 LESSON OUTCOMES

At the end of the chapter, student should be able to :

 understand the concept of oscillation and SHM

 determine the parameters involved in SHM
(period, frequency, angular frequency, force, acceleration, velocity)

 solve the general equation for SHM to identify the

displacement, velocity & acceleration as a function of time
 calculate the kinetic energy and the potential energy of SHM
 explain the damped harmonic motion and resonance
 OSCILLATION
 If an object vibrates or oscillates back and forth over the same path,
each cycle taking the same amount of time, the motion is called
periodic motion or harmonic motion.
 The motion of a simple pendulum and the vibration of a loaded
spring are examples of type of oscillation, which also called simple
harmonic motion.
 TERMINOLOGY
1) Equilibrium Position
the midpoint where the body lies when it is at rest

2) Displacement (x or y)
the distance moved by the body from the equilibrium position
when oscillates.
 positive displacement (+), indicates direction to the right or upward
 negative displacement (-), indicates direction to the left or downward

3) Amplitude (xo)
the maximum displacement from the position of equilibrium

xo O
 TERMINOLOGY
4) Period (T)
time taken for an object to complete one oscillation
Unit: seconds (s)

A O A
5) Frequency
the number of complete cycles per unit time

1 or n n = no. of cycles
f  f 
T t t = time taken
Unit: Hertz (Hz) or cycle per seconds (cps)
 TERMINOLOGY
Displacement - time graph
 SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
 Consider a spring as in figure and assume
the mass of the spring can be ignored.
 The spring is mounted horizontally, so that
the object of mass m slides without friction
on the horizontal surface.
 If the mass is compresses or stretches the
spring, it exerts a force on the mass that
acts in the direction of returning the mass to
the equilibrium position; hence it is called a
restoring force.
F-x
 Thus, simple harmonic motion can be define
as any oscillating system for which the net
restoring force is directly proportional to the
negative of the displacement.
F = - kx
where k is a spring stiffness constant (unit : N/m)
 KINEMATICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
 For a body in SHM, the acceleration is
proportional to its displacement from
equilibrium position and always directed
towards that equilibrium position.
a-x
a = - ω2 x
** the negative sign denotes that the direction of the
acceleration is in the opposite direction to the
displacement

 At the equilibrium position (x = 0), the

acceleration and the force is zero.
 But when x = ± xo , magnitude of force
and magnitude of acceleration is
maximum
KINEMATICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
•  

 
KINEMATICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
 
KINEMATICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
 KINEMATICS OF SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

 • The displacement, x of a particle

from O given by :
T

 
• The velocity,
v   x0

velocity,
dx/dt
T t

v    x0

  a   2 x0
• The acceleration,
acceleration
. dx2/dt2 t
T

a    2 x0
 THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM VALUES OF SHM

Apply the SHM equation; 3) Acceleration, a = ω 2 xo sin ω t

1) Displacement, x = xo sin ω t
a is max when sin ω t = 1
 a max = ω 2 xo
x is max when sin ω t = 1
a is min when sin ω t = 0
 x max = xo = amplitude
 a min = 0
x is min when sin ω t = 0
 x min = 0 a

x = - xo x=0 x = xo
2) velocity, v = ω xo cos ω t
v=0 v=0
v = ω xo
v is max when cos ω t = 1 a max = ω 2 xo a max = ω 2 xo
a=0
 v max = ω xo

v is min when cos ω t = 0 v = ω x o2 – x 2

 v min = 0 a = ω 2x
Example 1

When a 400 g mass is hung at the end of a vertical spring, the spring stretch 35
cm. What is the spring constant of the spring and how much further will it
stretch if an additional 400 g mass is hung from it?

Solution :

Ans: 11.2 N/m, -0.7 m

Example 2
A 50 g mass vibrates in SHM at the end of spring. The amplitude of the motion
is 12 cm, and the period is 1.7 s. Calculate :
a) the frequency
b) the spring constant
c) the max speed
d) the max acceleration of the mass
e) the speed when the displacement is 6 cm
f) the acceleration when x = 6 cm.

Solution :

Ans: 0.588 Hz, 0.683 N/m, 0.44 m/s, -1.6 m/s 2, 0.38 m/s, -0.82 m/s2
Solution :
Solution :
Example 3
Figure shows a force-displacement graph for the 0.15 kg body of mass that
executes simple harmonic motion . Find the:
a) Amplitude of the motion
b) Period F (N)

c) Max velocity of the body

3

Solution : 0.2
X (m)
- 0.2

-3

Ans: 0.2 m, 0.63 s, 2 m/s

 [
KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM

 When a body of mass m is in simple harmonic motion,

its total energy = kinetic energy + potential energy
E=K+U

 Kinetic energy, K  1 mv 2 where v 2   2  x 0 2  x 2 

2
1
K  m 2  x 0 2  x 2 
2

 When the body is at the equilibrium point, x = 0, and kinetic energy is the
maximum,
1
K  m 2 x 0 2
2
 KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM

 When x = ± x0 , kinetic energy is the minimum, Kmin = 0

 The potential energy U of the body is assumed to be zero when it is at the

equilibrium point, x = 0.
1
 Since total energy, E = K + U and when x = 0, K  m 2 x 0 2
2

E  K U
1
E  m 2 x 0 2  0
2

 Hence total energy,

1
E  m 2 x 0 2  constant
2
 KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM

 For any displacement x, E=K+U

1 1
m 2 x 0 2  m 2 ( x 0 2  x 2 )  U
2 2

1 1
 Hence potential energy, U  m 2 x 0 2  m 2 ( x 0 2  x 2 )
2 2
1
U  m 2 x 2
2

Energy plotted as a function of equilibrium position (variation of E,K and U with x)

energy
1
Total Energy , E  m x 0
2 2

2
1
Potential Energy, U  m x
2 2

Kinetic Energy, K 
1
2
m 2
x0  x
2 2

x
-x0 0 x0
 KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM

 For a body which is in SHM,

dU
 Force on the body, F  
dx
F   (gradient of U  x graph )
F   m 2 x

 If a time, t = 0, x = 0, the displacement x of a particle in SHM is given by

x = x0 sin ωt, then
dx
 Velocity, v    x 0 cos t
dt
 KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM
1 2
 Kinetic energy, K  mv
2
1
K  m 2 x 0 2 cos 2  t
2

 Potential energy,
U EK
1 1
U  m x 0  m 2 x 0 2 cos 2  t
2 2

2 2
1
U  m 2 x 0 2 (1  cos 2  t )
2
1
U  m 2 x 0 2 sin 2  t
2
 KINETIC ENERGY AND POTENTIAL ENERGY IN SHM

Energy plotted as a function of time

energy
Total Energy , E

Kinetic energy,(Cosine wave)

1
K  m 2 x 0 2 cos 2  t
2

Potential Energy, U (sinus wave)

1
U  m 2 x 0 2 sin 2  t
2
T/2 T 3/2T 2T time
Example 4
A particle of mass 2 kg performs SHM and its potential energy U changes with
displacement x from a fixed point as shown in the graph. Determine :
a) The amplitude
b) The period
c) The velocity of the particle when x = 0.2 m
d) The force on the particle when x = 0.2 m
Solution :

Ans: 0.4 m, 0.628 s, 3.46 m/s, -40N

 SYSTEMS IN SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION

1. Spring Mass System

An example of a linear SHM is the vibration of a load at the end of a spring as

shown in figure below.
 SPRING MASS SYSTEM
 Figure shows a load of mass, m hanging in equilibrium at the end of a
vertical spring of force constant, k.
 The equilibrium extension of the spring is e.
 Assuming that :
 The spring obeys Hooke’s Law
 The mass of the spring is negligible
 Tension in the spring, To = ke =mg (weight of the load) -------------- (1)

 Based on the figure above, the load is then pulled down to A, such that the
distance OA is less than the equilibrium extension e. After the load is
released, it oscillates between A and B. The amplitude of the oscillation is
OA = OB.
 The displacement of the load from the equilibrium point O is x, and the
tension in the spring is :
T1 = k (e + x)
 SPRING MASS SYSTEM
 

mg – T1 = ma

 
 SYSTEMS IN SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
2. Simple Pendulum
A simple pendulum consists of a heavy bob of mass, m at the end of a string of
length l as shown in figure below.

When the bob of the simple pendulum is in equilibrium, the string is vertical and
the bob is at O. Hence O is the point of equilibrium.
 The weight mg of the bob produces a torque in the clockwise direction.
Taking the anticlockwise direction as positive,
Torque,  = -mg ( l sin θ )
SIMPLE PENDULUM
 SYSTEMS IN SIMPLE HARMONIC MOTION
3. Torsional Pendulum
Another example of angular SHM is the torsional pendulum which consists of a
heavy rod suspended from a torsion wire about its centre of mass O as shown
in figure.

The heavy rod is turned through an angular displacement about the torsion wire
and then released. The rod oscillates about the torsion wire.
 TORSIONAL PENDULUM
 
Example 5
A block of mass 2.5 kg on a smooth horizontal surface is attached to a helical
spring as shown in the figure. The block is displaced 0.20 m from its equilibrium
position by a force of 5.0 N and then released.

a) Show that the subsequent motion of the block is simple harmonic

b) Determine the frequency of the simple harmonic motion.

Solution :

Ans: 0.503 Hz
Solution :
EXERCISE 1
A particle undergoes linear SHM with amplitude 4 cm and at frequency
10 Hz. At instant t = 0 the particle is 3 cm from the equilibrium position.
Write down the expression for the displacement of the particle.

Solution :

Ans: x = 4 sin (20π t + 0.27π) cm

EXERCISE 2

The displacement x of a particle undergoing linear SHM is given by:

1
x  5 sin ( 20 t   )
6
Where x and t are measured in cm and second respectively.
a) Determine :
i) the amplitude
ii) the time taken to perform 5 complete oscillations.

b) What is the maximum speed of the particle can achieve? At what position
would this value can attained?

c) Determine the magnitude of the velocity and acceleration when the particle
is 3 cm from the equilibrium position.

d) Determine
i) the initial position of the particle before it starts to undergo SHM,
ii) the initial speed when the particle starts to undergo SHM.
37
Solution :

Ans: 5 cm, 0.5 s, 3.14 m/s, 2.51 m/s, 118.4 m/s 2, 2.5 cm, 2.72 m/s
 DAMPED HARMONIC MOTION
 A free oscillations - undisturbed by external forces and vibrates
at its natural frequency. No changes in amplitude, thus energy
remain constant.
 In damped harmonic motion, an object oscillates with a
decrease in amplitude which is called ‘damping’ due to external
force.
 The amplitude of the oscillation decreases and the system finally
stop oscillating.
 Energy is lost from the oscillatory system.
 DAMPED HARMONIC MOTION

There are 3 types of damped oscillation :

1. Underdamping (Curve A):

• the amplitude of the oscillation decreases slowly due to air

resistance

2. Critical damping (Curve B) :

• occurs when the damping is just sufficient to prevent oscillation

and not too large to delay the return to the equilibrium position.
• the system comes to a stop in a short time.

3. Overdamping (Curve C) :

• the resistance to motion is so large that after being displaced,

the system takes a very long to return to its equilibrium position.
 DAMPED HARMONIC MOTION

• the amplitude of the oscillation decreases exponentially with time

• the energy of the system also decreases exponentially with time
• the period of oscillation is greater than the period in free oscillation
 DAMPED HARMONIC MOTION

 There are systems where damping is unwanted, such as clocks

and watches.
 Then there are systems in which it is wanted, and often needs to
be as close to critical damping as possible, such as automobile
shock absorbers and earthquake protection for buildings.
 FORCED VIBRATIONS: RESONANCE

 Forced vibrations occur when there is a periodic driving force. (a force

is continually or repeatedly applied to keep the oscillation going)

 This force may or may not have the same period as the natural
frequency of the system.

 If the frequency is the same as the natural frequency, the amplitude

becomes quite large. This is called resonance.

(Resonance is the condition of a system which subjected

to a periodic disturbance of the same frequency as the natural
frequency of the system and produce greater amplitude)
 FORCED VIBRATIONS: RESONANCE

 The sharpness of the resonant

peak depends on the
damping.
 If the damping is small (A), it
can be quite sharp; if the
damping is larger (B), it is less
sharp.

 Like damping, resonance can be wanted or unwanted.

 Musical instruments and TV/radio receivers depend on it.