Simple Harmonic Motion and Wave Motion

[Commodore]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could explain Simple Harmonic Motion. My physics teacher has tried and I have read the parts in the book, but I am still confused. I know how to find the amplitude from the standard form equations, but I really just don't understand how to get the period and the frequencies. Does it have something to do with the $$\omega$$t+$$\phi$$ thing or am I just way off? (If it doesn't, please explain what $$\omega$$t+$$\phi$$ tells you.) Thank you!

-- Commodore

 

[Astronuc]

For a sinusoidal (sin or cos) wave, the parameter $\omega$ is the angular velocity and multiplied by t gives an angular position which is linear with time - $\omega$t is always increasing. The other parameter in the argument, $\phi$, is the phase angle, which simply shifts the sine wave in time.

See if this helps - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/shm.html

 

[Commodore]

Thank you very much for the information. I am about to see if I understand it by taking my last test (before the final).