Simple Harmonic Motion

INTRODUCTION
A particle has oscillatory (vibrational) motion when it moves periodically about a stable equilibrium position. The
motion of a pendulum is oscillatory. A weight attached to a stretched spring, once it is released, starts oscillating.Of
all the oscillatory motions, most important is called simple harmonic motion (S.H.M.). In this type of oscillatory
motion, displacement, velocity, acceleration and force all vary (w.r.t to time) in a way that can be described by
either the sine or the cosine function collectively called sinusoids.
In S.H.M. the restoring force acting on the particle is directly proportional to its displacment from the equilibrium
position.
F x
F   Kx
K is the constant of proportionality and (–ve) sign shows that the force is always directed toward the mean
position.
Using newtons second law SHM is dessembed by,
d2x
F  ma    kx
dt 2
d2x k
2
 x
dt m
2
d x
2
  2 x
dt
k
where,    Angular frequency of SHM.
m

KINEMATICS OF S.H.M.
A particle has S.H.M. along the axis OX when its displacement x relative to the origin of coordinate system is
given as a function of time by the relation.
x  A sin  wt   

The quantity  wt    is called the phase angle of the SHM and  is called the initial phase i.e. phase at t = 0 .
The maximum displacement from the origin A, is called the amplitude of the SHM.
2
Period : T

Frequency : No. of oscillations per unit time

2
Angular fequency :    2
T
dx
Velocity: v  A cos  t      A 2  x 2
dt
which varies periodically between the values A and A
dv
Acceleration: a  2 Asin  t     2 x
dt
[1]
[2] Simple Harmonic Motion

and varies periodically between the values 2 A and 2 A

x V

+A

t t
–A

VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION AS A FUNCTION OF DISPLACEMENT

By defintion, the acceleration of a body in S.H.M. is proportional to the displacement. i.e.
a  2 x
dv
a  2 x
dt
dv dx
 .  2 x
dx dt
dv
 v.  2 x  vdv  2 x.dx
dx
Integrating both sides
2
 vdv    x.dx
v2 x2
 2 c
2 2
when x = 0, v = vmax = A
A 2 2
 C
2
 v   A2  x 2
a

O x

–A O A x
Simple Harmonic Motion [3]

(a) Slop of the line  2 (b) Variation of v with x is ellipse

KINETIC ENERGY
The kinetic energy of the particle is
1 1
K  mv 2  mA 2 2 cos 2  t   
2 2
and using x  A sin  t    , we can also express K.E. as
1
K  m2 A 2 1  sin 2  t    
2
1
K  m2  A 2  x 2 
2
At x   A , K  K min  0
1
At x = 0, K  K max  m2 A 2
2

POTENTIAL ENERGY
To obtain the potential energy, we use the relation.
x x

U    F.dx      Kx  dx
0 0

1 1
U  kx 2  m2 x 2
2 2
1  2
At x   A , U  U max  2 m x

At x = 0, U  K min  0

TOTAL ENERGY
Total Energy E
1 1
E  K  U  m2  A 2  x 2   m2 x 2
2 2
1
E  m2 A 2
2
which is a constant quantity. This was to be expected since the force is conservative.

K or U
E, U, K
E
E
U
K

U
x K
–A O A t
O
[4] Simple Harmonic Motion

TIME PERIOD AND FREQUENCY OF S.H.M.

Linear S.H.M. Angular SHM
F  kx    k
ma = –kx I  k
k k
a x  
m I
 2 x   2 

k k
   
m I
2 k 2 k
 
T m T I
m I
 T  2  T  2
k k
Inertia factor
General Formula therefore for Time period is T  2
Forcefactor

SPRING MASS SYSTEM

(I) SERIES COMBINATION

Two springs are said to be series when both are stretched with the same force F and the total displacement
is the sum of individual deformation of each spring i.e.
F  k1 x 1  k 2 x 2
x = x1+x2
where x1 and x2 are deformations in the springs of constants k1 and k2 respectively.
Equivalent stiffness of the spring is given by

1 1 1 k1 k2
 
k k1 k 2 m

m K
and T = 2
k m

(II) PARALLEL COMBINATION

Two springs are said to be in parallel when both are stretched to the same deformation x and the total force
F they exert on the block is equal to the sum of the individual forces. i.e.
x1  x 2  x
k1
F  F1  F2   k1  k 2  x k2 m
 K   k1  k 2 
m
T  2
K
Simple Harmonic Motion [5]

RELATION BETWEEN STIFFNESS AND LENGTH OF THE SPRING

The stiffness K of a spring is inversely proportional to its length l.
1
K
l
If a spring of stiffness K and length l is cut into two parts of length l1 and l2, then the stiffness k1 and k2 of
each part are given as
k1 l2

k 2 l1

l l 
k1   1 2  K
 l1 

l l 
k2   1 2  K
 l2 

PENDULUMS
(i) Simple Pendulum: For small oscillations, the time period of a simple pendulum is given by
l
T  2
g
The ime period is independent of mass.
(ii) If the time period of a simple pendulum is 2 seconds, it is called seconds pendulum.
(iii) If the length of the pendulum is large, g no longer remain vertical but will be directed towards the centre of
the earth and then time period.
1
T  2
1 1 
g  
l R 
R = radius of the earth

1 1 l
(a) If l <<R,  and T  2
l R g

1 1 l
(b) If l >> R,  and T  2 = 84.6 min
l R g
(iv) Time period of a simple pendulum depends on acceleration due to gravity. Then
l r r r
T  2 r where g eff  g  a
g eff
(a) If a simple pendulum is in a carriage which is accelerating with acceleration ar , upwards, then
g eff  g  a

l
T  2
ag
(b) If the carriage is moving downwards.
g eff  g  a
[6] Simple Harmonic Motion

l
T  2
ga
(c) If the carriage is in horizontal direction, then

g eff  a 2  g 2

l
T  2
a  g2
2

(d) In a freely falling lift geff = 0, T   , i..e. pendulum will not oscillate.
r r
(e) If in addition to gravity, one additional force F (e.g. electrostatic force Fe ) is also acting on the bob,
r
r r F
then in that case, g eff  g 
m

PHYSICAL PENDULUM
A physical pendulum is an extended body pivoted about point O, which is at a distance d from its centre of
mass. For small angular displacement  ,the restoring torque is given by
  mgd sin    mgd
Using Newton’s second law
O d
d 2
I 2  mgd.
dt C.M.
mg
d 2   mgd
  .
dt 2 I
Time period
I
T  2
mgd

Some Special Cases

(a) A rod of mass m and length l suspended about its its end.
l ml 2 O
Hence, d  , I
2 3 d=l/2
C.M.
2l
 T  2
3g mg

(b) Fig. shows a ring of mass m and radius R, pivoted at a point O on its periphery. It is free to rotate
about an axis perpendicular to its plane.
Here, d = R and O
I = 2mR2 Pivot

2R
 T  2 C.M.
g