Difference Between Shm & Oscillation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aishik Rakshit
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Oscillation Shm
Click For Summary
Simple harmonic motion (SHM) is a specific type of oscillation characterized by motion that follows a sinusoidal function. In contrast, oscillation encompasses a wider range of alternating motions, which can be periodic or non-periodic, as long as the displacement remains bounded between two extremes. SHM is defined by a restoring force that is proportional to the negative displacement from equilibrium. This means that in SHM, the force acting on the object is directly related to how far it is from its rest position, acting in the opposite direction. Overall, while all SHM is oscillation, not all oscillation qualifies as SHM.
Aishik Rakshit
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
What is the difference between simple harmonic motion and oscillation?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In simple harmonic motion, the motion of the body in question can be simply described as following sinusoidal function. Oscillation covers broader range of alternating motion, both periodic and non-periodic, as long as the displacement is bounded between two extrema.
 
SHM is a kind of oscillation. The oscillations where the restoring force F is proportional to the displacement of the particle oscillating from equilibrium and in opposite direction is SHM.

That is for SHM, F is proportional to (-x)
 

Thread 'Does acceleration affect impact energy vs constant velocity?'

I do not have a good working knowledge of physics yet. I tried to piece this together but after researching this, I couldn’t figure out the correct laws of physics to combine to develop a formula to answer this question. Ex. 1 - A moving object impacts a static object at a constant velocity. Ex. 2 - A moving object impacts a static object at the same velocity but is accelerating at the moment of impact. Assuming the mass of the objects is the same and the velocity at the moment of impact...
View full post »

Similar threads

Undergrad What is the Relationship Between Amplitude and Speed in SHM?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
How to know whether motion is simple harmonic motion or not?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
Solving Oscillation & SHM Difficulties
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
High School Oscillations of Dipole in Electric Field: Stability & SHM
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Why does damping affect the time period of SHM oscillators?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
17K
High School Centrifugal Force in Angular SHM: Explained
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Undergrad Solving the differential equations involving SHM
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
What is the differences between vibration and oscillation
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
17K
High School What is the reason behind including ##2π/T##?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Non-Zero Potential Energy in SHM: Is Spring Stretched in Mean Position?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K