Simple Harmonic Motion

A.P.L.Chandimal
 Simple harmonic motion
ω

x
Blue dot undergoes simple harmonic motion
 Simple harmonic motion
Definitions:

A body is said to move or vibrate with simple harmonic motions if that

object moves in a straight line path and has an acceleration directed
always towards a fixed point and the acceleration is proportional to the
distance to that fixed point.
 SHM
ω OM = x = r cos θ
B [ω = ]
P x = r cos ωt
V = = r (-sin ωt). ω
r √𝑟 2 − 𝑥 2
C θ A V = -r ω sin ωt
O M
𝑥 V = -r ω sin θ ------(1)

θ = 00 & 1800, V = 0
θ = 900, V = -r ω
D
Therefore Vmax is when θ = 900
[at the mid point (O)]
 SHM
θ (degrees) velocity Acceleration

90

180
For “V”; From (1): V = -r ω sin θ
But sin θ = V = -ω ----(2)

For “a”;
a = = = -r ω cos ωt.ω

a = -r ω2 cos ωt θ = 00 ; a= -r ω2
a = -r ω2 cos θ θ = 900 ;a=0
a = - ω2 θ = 1800 ; a = r ω2
amax = r ω2
amax is when θ = 00 & 1800
[or when = 0 (see equation 2) at the extreme ends]
SHM
Simple harmonic motion
 SHM
V ms-1
𝑑𝑣 V = -r ω sin θ
=𝑎=0
Vmax 𝑑𝑡
constant

𝑑𝑣
=𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑑𝑡 t
 Important terms
• Amplitude: the maximum value “” can take
– Amplitude = radius of the circle (r)
• Oscillation: one complete motion along AOC and back to A, is
one oscillation.
• Periodic time (T): time to complete one oscillation
T=
• Frequency (): number of oscillations per second

f= = ω = 2πf
 Problems
1. Find the velocity and the acceleration after 0.3 s from the extreme
position for body moving with SHM with an amplitude of 0.8m and period
of complete oscillation of 1.6 s.
Ans: v = -2.902m/s, a = -4.721 m/s2
 Problems
2. A body moving SHM has an amplitude of 1m and period of complete
oscillation is 2s . What will be the “v” and “a” of the body 2/5 of a second
after passing the mid point.
Ans: v = -0.971m/s, a = 9.387 m/s2
 Problems
3. The piston of a steam engine moves with simple harmonic motion. The
crank rotates at 100 r.p.m. with a stroke of 180cm. Find the velocity and
acceleration of the piston, when it is at a distance of 60 cm from the
center.
Ans: v = -7.025m/s, a = -65.797 m/s2
SHM of a crank
 Problems
4. A body moving with SHM has velocity 8m/s and 3m/s at distances of
1.5m and 2.5m respectively from the center. Find the amplitude and the
time period of the body.
Ans: T = 1.7 s, r = 2.628 m
 Problems
5. In a mechanism, a cross-head moves in straight guide with simple
harmonic motion. At distances of 125mm and 200mm from its mean
position, it has velocities of 6m/sec and 3m/sec respectively. Find the
amplitude, maximum velocity and period of vibration.

Assuming the cross-head moves in the horizontal direction and weighs

0.2N, calculate the maximum force on it in the direction of motion.
 Bodies having SHM
Following two standard types of bodies will be discussed under this;
• Vertical elastic string or spring
• Simple pendulum (motion of the bob of a clock)
Vertical elastic string or spring
w – weight attached
e – static extension due to constant weight
x – amount stretched

Tension in the springs =

Net upward force =T–w
= –w
=
Net upward force =

w
 Vertical elastic string or spring
Using F = ma
= ma = [=]
a =[ [this is in the form a = ω2]
Therefor for motion under SHM;
ω= T==
T=
 Stiffness of a spring (spring constant)

The force required for unit deflection is called spring k=

constant (k)
In our example k = = =

Derive T = and =
 Spring constant
T= =
T= =
T= =

T= =
 Problems
1. The frequency of free vibration of a weight W with a spring constant “k”
is 12 cycles/sec. when an extra weight of 20N is coupled with the weight
W, the frequency reduces to 10 cycles/sec. find the weight W and stiffness
“k” of the spring.
Ans: W = 45.455N, k = 2.584 x 104 Nm
 Problems
2. Two springs of stiffness k1 and k2 are connected in series. Upper end of
the compound spring is connected to a ceiling and lower end carries a load
W. find the equivalent spring stiffness of the system.
If the above two springs are connected in parallel then find the equivalent
spring stiffness of the system .
 Problems
3. Determine the periods of vibration of a weight P attached
to springs of stiffness C1 and C2 in the arrangement shown in
the figure. C1
Ans -
P
Consider;
P1 – weight on upper spring 1 (under tension)
C2
P2 – weight on lower spring 2 (under compression)
Extension of spring 1 = e1
Extension of spring 2 = e2
e1 = e 2
 Problems
4. A helical spring under a weight of 20N extends 0.30 mm. A weight of
700N is supported on the same spring. Determine the period and
frequency of vibration of the weight and spring when they are displaced
vertically by a distance of 0.9 cm and released. Find the velocity of the
weight when the weight is 4 mm below its equilibrium position. Take the
weight of spring as negligible.
Simple pendulum
 Simple pendulum
T l - length of the spring
m - mass of the bob
B w - weight of the bob
w = mg
T – tension in the string
A
T = wcosθ

Tangential force acting towards BA

F = ma wsinθ = -
Thus a = - gsinθ
 Simple Pendulum
Further, if θ is very small, = θ and -----(1)
then θ = ------(2)
From (1) and (2)
------(3)

𝑎=ω 2 𝑥
𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝟑𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝒇𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔
Time period T = =
a=-ω 2

ω= Frequency =
 Simple Pendulum Cont…
Beat – time to half of the oscillation
One beat = =
Second’s pendulum – the pendulum which takes 1 second for one beat
Find the Length of second pendulum:
T= 2 = = = 1.0132 m
 Problems
1. what is the period and frequency of a simple pendulum that is 70cm
long on the Earth and on the Moon? (consider the gravitational
acceleration on the moon 1.6m/s2)
Ans: T = 4.16s, f = 0.24Hz
2. An 80cm simple pendulum makes 28 complete swings in 45 seconds on
an unknown planet. What is the gravitational acceleration of the planet?
Ans: 12.2 m/s
 Problems
3. A simple pendulum of amplitude 40 performs 24 oscillations in one
minute. Find;
1. Length of the pendulum
2. Maximum acceleration of the bob
3. Maximum linear velocity of the bob
 Problems
4. A 0.75m pendulum with a 450g mass attached to it is released at 15
degrees from the vertical.
a. What is the frequency
b. How long does it take to reach its maximum speed?
c. What is the maximum speed?
d. What is the total energy of the system
 Problems
4. A simple pendulum consists of 600mm long cord and a bob of mass 2kg.
Find the number of oscillation made by the bob per second.
If the same pendulum is suspended inside a train, accelerating smoothly
on a level truck at the rate of 3m/s2, find the angle which the cord will
make with the vertical. Also find the tension in the cord.
Gain or loss in the number of oscillations due to change in
“l” or “g”
One beat = = t=
“n” beats t = n=
Taking log: log n = log t – log + (lot g – log )
Taking differential coefficients:

= [-] = -
 Gain or loss continue
= - [dn – change in time in n seconds]
If changers and constant:
=-
If the number of beats of a clock increases it is due to the decrease in the
length of the pendulum.
If changers and constant:
=
If dg increases, dn increases and vise versa.
 Problems
5. Find the length of the pendulum, which will have one beat per second. If
such pendulum loses 5 seconds a day, by how much length must it be
shortened to keep the correct time?
 Problems
6. A pendulum having a string of length 99.39 cm. How much length of the
pendulum must be shorten to keep the correct time of the pendulum if it
looses 5 second a day?
 Equations summery
For a general SHM
Instantaneous velocity V = -ω or V = r ω sin θ

Instantaneous acceleration a = - ω2 T=

For a spring system For a pendulum

𝑇 =2 𝝅
√𝒎
𝒌

𝒌𝒙
T=
𝑻=𝟐π .
𝒍
𝒈√ 𝑎=
𝒈𝒙
𝒍

𝑎=
𝒎