What is Simple harmonic motion: Definition and 913 Discussions

In mechanics and physics, simple harmonic motion (sometimes abbreviated SHM) is a special type of periodic motion where the restoring force on the moving object is directly proportional to the object's displacement magnitude and acts towards the object's equilibrium position. It results in an oscillation which, if uninhibited by friction or any other dissipation of energy, continues indefinitely.
Simple harmonic motion can serve as a mathematical model for a variety of motions, but is typified by the oscillation of a mass on a spring when it is subject to the linear elastic restoring force given by Hooke's law. The motion is sinusoidal in time and demonstrates a single resonant frequency. Other phenomena can be modeled by simple harmonic motion, including the motion of a simple pendulum, although for it to be an accurate model, the net force on the object at the end of the pendulum must be proportional to the displacement (and even so, it is only a good approximation when the angle of the swing is small; see small-angle approximation). Simple harmonic motion can also be used to model molecular vibration as well.
Simple harmonic motion provides a basis for the characterization of more complicated periodic motion through the techniques of Fourier analysis.

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  1. K

    Advantages of a cone-shaped spring?

    I'm doing a personal experiment where I take a conical spring (that is, a spring with two different diameters on either end), hang it from the ceiling, and measure the period of oscillation for different masses hanging below the spring. I do this for two different orientations of the spring; one...
  2. Z

    Position and acceleration in simple harmonic motion given velocity

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  3. heroslayer99

    What is the max amplitude before the sand particles slip off the vibrating plate?

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  4. M

    What is the definition of a way and how does it relate to travel?

    I put 0, but that is incorrect. Why is 0 an incorrect answer? This is confusing, as if the pendulum is in free fall, wouldn't there be no SHM at all?
  5. T

    I Solutions to Simple Harmonic Motion second order differential equation

    All simple harmonic motion must satisfy $$\frac{d^2s}{dt^2}=-k^2s$$ for a positive value k. The most well known solution is the sinusoidal one $$ s=Acos/sin(\omega t + \delta)$$ A is amplitude, ##\omega##is related to frequency and ##\delta## is phase displacement. My lecturer said that there...
  6. V

    How to prove that motion is periodic but not simple harmonic?

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  7. Z

    Solving for Simple Harmonic Motion: A Picture Problem

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    Pan suspended by a spring (Energy + SHM)

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  9. DarkEnergy890

    Bungee jump | simple harmonic motion

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  10. Curiosity_0

    B Correct SHM Equation: Does € Matter?

    A textbook I am using gives the basic eqn of motion of shm as follows : X = Asin(wt + €) V =Awcos(wt+€) But other textbooks and online sources are interchanging sin and cos in above equations, so which is the correct one? Or does it depend on the phase constant €?
  11. A

    I The speed of a waves on a string in Simple harmonic motion

    The speed of a wave in simple harmonic motion on a string is $$v= \sqrt{\frac{F}{\mu}}$$ where v= the horizontal velocity of the wave on a string. Is the F the horizontal force or the resultant force (combination of Fy and Fx)?
  12. tbn032

    B Is simple harmonic motion also a pure translatory motion?

    Is simple harmonic motion also a pure translatory motion?"A rigid body moves in pure translation if each particle of the body undergoes the same displacement as every other particle in any given time interval" [Halliday and Resnick, Physics].If not,then how does shm deviate from this definition>
  13. L

    An object oscillating in simple harmonic motion

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  14. Krokodrile

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  15. P

    Understanding the Forces Behind Part B of the Graph

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  16. P

    Equations of motion of damped oscillations due to kinetic friction

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  17. Krokodrile

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  18. P

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  19. momoneedsphysicshelp

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  21. K

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  22. T

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  24. Andrei0408

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  28. M

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  29. zilex191

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  31. T

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  33. M

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  34. Beelzedad

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  35. E

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  36. T

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  37. Vivek98phyboy

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  41. jisbon

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  42. warhammer

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  43. person123

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  44. D

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  45. M

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  46. NP04

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  47. D

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  48. solarmidnightrose

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  49. M

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  50. bigbosswilly

    High school Physics - Simple Harmonic Motion

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