Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

What is Simple Harmonic Motion?

Simple Harmonic Motion or SHM is defined as a motion in which the restoring force is directly proportional to the displacement of the body from its mean position. The direction of this restoring force is always towards the mean position. The acceleration of a particle executing simple harmonic motion is given by, a(t) = -ω² x(t). Here, ω is the angular velocity of the particle.

Table of Contents

• Difference Between Simple Harmonic, Periodic and Oscillation Motion
• Types of Simple Harmonic Motion
• General Terms
• Differential Equation
• Angular SHM
• Quantitative Analysis
• Necessary conditions
• Energy in SHM
• Geometrical Interpretations
• Horizontal Phasor

Simple Harmonic, Periodic and Oscillation Motion

Simple harmonic motion can be described as an oscillatory motion in which the acceleration of the particle at any position is directly proportional to the displacement from the mean position. It is a special case of oscillatory motion.

All the Simple Harmonic Motions are oscillatory and also periodic but not all oscillatory motions are SHM. Oscillatory motion is also called the harmonic motion of all the oscillatory motions wherein the most important one is simple harmonic motion (SHM).

In this type of oscillatory motion displacement, velocity and acceleration and force vary (w.r.t time) in a way that can be described by either sine (or) the cosine functions collectively called sinusoids.

Also Read:

• Simple Pendulum Concepts
• Spring-Mass System

The study of Simple Harmonic Motion is very useful and forms an important tool in understanding the characteristics of sound waves, light waves and alternating currents. Any oscillatory motion which is not simple Harmonic can be expressed as a superposition of several harmonic motions of different frequencies.

Difference between Periodic, Oscillation and Simple Harmonic Motion

Periodic Motion

• A motion repeats itself after an equal interval of time. For example, uniform circular motion.
• There is no equilibrium position.
• There is no restoring force.
• There is no stable equilibrium position.

Oscillation Motion

• To and fro motion of a particle about a mean position is called an oscillatory motion in which a particle moves on either side of equilibrium (or) mean position is an oscillatory motion.
• It is a kind of periodic motion bounded between two extreme points. For example, Oscillation of Simple Pendulum, Spring-Mass System.
• The object will keep on moving between two extreme points about a fixed point is called mean position (or) equilibrium position along any path. (the path is not a constraint).
• There will be a restoring force directed towards equilibrium position (or) mean position.
• In an oscillatory motion, the net force on the particle is zero at the mean position.
• The mean position is a stable equilibrium position.

Simple Harmonic Motion or SHM

• It is a special case of oscillation along with straight line between the two extreme points (the path of SHM is a constraint).
• Path of the object needs to be a straight line.
• There will be a restoring force directed towards equilibrium position (or) mean position.
• Mean position in Simple harmonic motion is a stable equilibrium.

Conditions for SHM:

Types of Simple Harmonic Motion

SHM or Simple Harmonic Motion can be classified into two types:

• Linear SHM
• Angular SHM

Linear Simple Harmonic Motion

When a particle moves to and fro about a fixed point (called equilibrium position) along with a straight line then its motion is called linear Simple Harmonic Motion.

For Example: spring-mass system

Conditions for Linear SHM:

The restoring force or acceleration acting on the particle should always be proportional to the displacement of the particle and directed towards the equilibrium position.

• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{x}\end{array} \)
  – displacement of particle from equilibrium position.
• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{F}\end{array} \)
  – Restoring force
• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{a}\,\end{array} \)
  - acceleration

Angular Simple Harmonic Motion

When a system oscillates angular long with respect to a fixed axis then its motion is called angular simple harmonic motion.

Conditions to Execute Angular SHM:

The restoring torque (or) Angular acceleration acting on the particle should always be proportional to the angular displacement of the particle and directed towards the equilibrium position.

Τ ∝ θ or α ∝ θ

Where,

• Τ – Torque
• α angular acceleration
• θ – angular displacement

Simple Harmonic Motion Key Terms

Mean Position

The point at which net force acting on the particle is zero.

From the mean position, the force acting on the particle is,

Conditions at Mean Position

The force acting on the particle is negative of the displacement. So, this point of equilibrium will be a stable equilibrium.

Amplitude in SHM

It is the maximum displacement of the particle from the mean position.

Time Period and Frequency of SHM

The minimum time after which the particle keeps on repeating its motion is known as the time period (or) the shortest time taken to complete one oscillation is also defined as the time period.

T = 2π/ω

Frequency: The number of oscillations per second is defined as the frequency.

Frequency = 1/T and, angular frequency ω = 2πf = 2π/T

Phase in SHM

The phase of a vibrating particle at any instant is the state of the vibrating (or) oscillating particle regarding its displacement and direction of vibration at that particular instant.

The expression, position of a particle as a function of time.

x = A sin (ωt + Φ)

Where (ωt + Φ) is the phase of the particle, the phase angle at time t = 0 is known as the initial phase.

Phase Difference 

The difference of total phase angles of two particles executing simple harmonic motion with respect to the mean position is known as the phase difference. Two vibrating particles are said to be in the same phase, the phase difference between them is an even multiple of π.

ΔΦ = nπ where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . . .

Two vibrating particles are said to be in opposite phase if the phase difference between them is an odd multiple of π.

ΔΦ = (2n + 1) π where n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . . .

Simple Harmonic Motion Equation and its Solution

Consider a particle of mass (m) executing Simple Harmonic Motion along a path x o x; the mean position at O. Let the speed of the particle be v₀ when it is at position p (at a distance no from O)

At t = 0 the particle at P (moving towards the right)

At t = t the particle is at Q (at a distance x from O)

With a velocity (v)

The restoring force

⇒

⇒

⇒

⇒

Put,

⇒

⇒

d²x/dt² + ω²x = 0, which is the differential equation for linear simple harmonic motion.

Solutions of Differential Equations of SHM

The differential equation for the Simple harmonic motion has the following solutions:

• \(\begin{array}{l}x=A\sin \omega \,t\end{array} \)
  (This solution when the particle is in its mean position point (O) in figure (a)
• \(\begin{array}{l}{{x}_{0}}=A\sin \phi\end{array} \)
  (When the particle is at the position & (not at mean position) in figure (b)
• \(\begin{array}{l}x=A\sin \left( \omega t+\phi \right)\end{array} \)
  (When the particle at Q at in figure (b) (any time t).

These solutions can be verified by substituting this x values in the above differential equation for the linear simple harmonic motion.

Angular Simple Harmonic Motion

A body free to rotate about an axis can make angular oscillations. For example, a photo frame or a calendar suspended from a nail on the wall. If it is slightly pushed from its mean position and released, it makes angular oscillations.

Conditions for an Angular Oscillation to be Angular SHM

The body must experience a net Torque that is restoring in nature. If the angle of oscillation is small, this restoring torque will be directly proportional to the angular displacement.

Τ ∝ – θ

Τ = – kθ

Τ = Iα

α = – kθ

This is the differential equation of an angular Simple Harmonic Motion. Solution of this equation is angular position of the particle with respect to time.

Then angular velocity,

θ₀ – amplitude of the angular SHM

Example:

• Simple pendulum
• Seconds pendulum
• The physical pendulum
• Torsional pendulum

Quantitative Analysis of SHM

Let us consider a particle executing Simple Harmonic Motion between A and A₁ about passing through the mean position (or) equilibrium position (O). Its analysis is as follows

SHM about Position O

Equation of Position of a Particle as a Function of Time

Let us consider a particle, which is executing SHM at time t = 0, the particle is at a distance from the equilibrium position.

Necessary conditions for Simple Harmonic Motion

• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{F}\propto -\overrightarrow{x}\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{a}\propto -\overrightarrow{x}\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{a}=-{{\omega }^{2}}x\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{a}=\frac{dv}{dx}\frac{dx}{dt}=v\frac{dv}{dx}\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}\overrightarrow{a}=v\frac{dv}{dx}=-{{\omega }^{2}}x\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}\int\limits_{0}^{v}{vdv}=\int\limits_{0}^{x}{-{{\omega }^{2}}xdx}\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}\frac{{{v}^{2}}}{2}=\frac{-{{\omega }^{2}}{{x}^{2}}}{2}+c\end{array} \)
  … (1)

Some condition we know:

At point A v = 0 [x = A] the equation (1) becomes

O =

c =

Sub the value of C in equation (1)

⇒

⇒

v =

v =

where, v is the velocity of the particle executing simple harmonic motion from definition instantaneous velocity

v =

⇒

⇒

x = Asin ( ωt + Φ) . . . . . (3)

The equation (3) – equation of position of a particle as a function of time.

Case 1: If at t = 0

The particle at x = x0

⇒

i.e.

Φ is the initial phase of the particle

Case 2: If at t = 0

The particle at x = 0

i.e. Φ = 0

Case 3: If the particle is at one of its extreme position x = A at t = 0

⇒

⇒

⇒ π/2 = Φ

So, the value can be anything depending upon the position of the particle at t = 0. That is why it is called initial phase of the particle.

Now if we see the equation of position of the particle with respect to time

π/2 = x = A sin ( ωt + Φ)

sin (ωt + Φ) – is the periodic function, whose period is T = 2π/ω

Which can be anything sine function or cosine function

Time Period of SHM

The coefficient of t is ω.

So the time period T = 2π/ω

ω =2π/T = 2πf

ωt = angular frequency of SHM.

From the expression of particle position as a function of time:

We can find particles, displacement

Velocity of a particle executing Simple Harmonic Motion

Velocity in SHM is given by v = dx/dt,

x = A sin (ωt + Φ)

v =

v =

Since, x = A sin ωt

⇒

⇒

On squaring both sides

⇒

⇒

⇒

⇒

The curve between displacement and velocity of a particle executing the simple harmonic motion is an ellipse.

When ω = 1 then, the curve between v and x will be circular.

Acceleration in SHM

⇒

⇒

Hence the expression for displacement, velocity and acceleration in linear simple harmonic motion are

• x = A sin ( ωt + Φ)
• v =
  \(\begin{array}{l}A\omega \cos \left( \omega t+\phi \right)=\omega \sqrt{{{A}^{2}}-{{x}^{2}}}\end{array} \)
  and
• a =
  \(\begin{array}{l}-A{{\omega }^{2}}\sin \left( \omega t+\phi \right)=-{{\omega }^{2}}x\end{array} \)

Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM)

The system that executes SHM is called the harmonic oscillator.

Consider a particle of mass m, executing linear simple harmonic motion of angular frequency (ω) and amplitude (A) the displacement

x = A sin (ωt + Φ)

v =

a =

The restoring force

F = -kx where k = mω².

Kinetic Energy of a Particle in SHM

Kinetic Energy =

=

=

Therefore, the Kinetic Energy =

Potential Energy of SHM

The total work done by the restoring force in displacing the particle from (x = 0) (mean position) to x = x:

When the particle has been displaced from x to x + dx the work done by restoring force is

dw = F dx = -kx dx

w =

=

=

Potential Energy = -(work done by restoring force)

Potential Energy =

Total Mechanical Energy of the Particle Executing SHM

E = KE + PE

E =

E =

Hence the total energy of the particle in SHM is constant and it is independent of the instantaneous displacement.

⇒ Relationship between Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy and time in Simple Harmonic Motion at t = 0, when x = ±A.

⇒ Variation of Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion with displacement:

Geometrical Interpretation of Simple Harmonic Motion

If a particle is moving with uniform speed along the circumference of a circle then the straight line motion of the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the particle on the diameter of the circle is called simple harmonic motion.

SHM as a Projection of Circular Motion

The particle is at position P at t = 0 and revolves with a constant angular velocity (ω) along a circle. The projection of P on the diameter along the x-axis (M). At the later time (t) the particle is at Q. Now its projection on the diameter along the x-axis is N.

As the particle P revolves around in a circle anti-clockwise its projection M follows it up moving back and forth along the diameter such that the displacement of the point of projection at any time (t) is the x-component of the radius vector (A).

x = A cos ( ωt + Φ) . . . . . . . (1)

y = A sin ( ωt + Φ) . . . . . (2)

Thus, we see that the uniform circular motion is the combination of two mutually perpendicular linear harmonic oscillation.

It implies that P is under uniform circular motion, (M and N) and (K and L) are performing simple harmonic motion about O with the same angular speed ω as that of P.

P is under uniform circular motion, which will have centripetal acceleration along A (radius vector)

It can be resolved into two components:

• \(\begin{array}{l}{{a}_{N}}=A{{\omega }^{2}}{{\sin }^{2}}\left( \omega t+\phi \right)\end{array} \)
• \(\begin{array}{l}{{a}_{L}}=A{{\omega }^{2}}{{\cos }^{2}}\left( \omega t+\phi \right)\end{array} \)

a_N and a_L acceleration corresponding to the points N and L respectively.

In the above discussion, the foot of projection on the x-axis is called horizontal phasor.

Similarly, the foot of the perpendicular on the y-axis is called vertical phasor. Already we know the vertical and horizontal phasor will execute the simple harmonic motion of amplitude A and angular frequency ω. The phases of the two SHM differ by π/2.

Problem-Solving Strategy in Horizontal Phasor

1. Let us assume a circle of radius equal to the amplitude of SHM.
2. Assume a particle rotating in a circular path moving with constant same as that of simple harmonic motion in the clockwise direction.
3. Angle made by the particle at t = 0 with the upper vertical axis is equal to φ (phase constant).
4. The horizontal component of the velocity of a particle gives you the velocity of a particle performing the simple harmonic motion.
5. The component of the acceleration of a particle in the horizontal direction is equal to the acceleration of the particle performing SHM. [In uniform circular acceleration centripetal only a_c = ω²A].

Waves and Simple Harmonic Motion Important Questions