What is the need of angular frequency in S.H.M.?

[Wrichik Basu]

While studying S.H.M., I found that the term $\omega$ is used quite a lot. The book says that this $\omega$ is the angular frequency.

What is this angular frequency? Why do we use $\omega$ rather than $\nu$, that is, the normal frequency? All equations in S.H.M. are made with $\omega$ rather then $\nu$. Why? What is the physical significance of angular frequency?

 

[Orodruin]

The angular frequency is a more natural variable to use in harmonic motion than the frequency. You could use the frequency instead, but you would have factors of $2\pi$ floating around in your equations.

 

[sophiecentaur]

What is the physical significance of angular frequency?

You could try this experiment. Dip into a section of your book / web page about SHM and copy out some of the expressions, replacing every ω you find with 2πf. They will look much more cluttered and the basic patterns are just not as clear.