Simple Harmonic motion

An object moving along the x-axis is said to exhibit simple harmonic motion if its
position as a function of time varies as

x(t) = x0 + Acos(ωt + φ).

The object oscillates about the equilibrium position x0. If we choose the origin of our
coordinate system such that x0 = 0, then the displacement x from the equilibrium position
as a function of time is given by

x(t) = Acos(ωt + φ).

A is the amplitude of the oscillation, i.e. the maximum displacement of the object from
equilibrium, either in the positive or negative x-direction. Simple harmonic motion is
repetitive. The period T is the time it takes the object to complete one oscillation and
return to the starting position. The angular frequency ω is given by ω = 2π/T. The
angular frequency is measured in radians per second. The inverse of the period is the
frequency f = 1/T. The frequency f = 1/T = ω/2π of the motion gives the number of
complete oscillations per unit time. It is measured in units of Hertz, (1Hz = 1/s).

The velocity of the object as a function of time is given by

v(t) = dx(t)/dt = -ωAsin(ωt + φ),

and the acceleration is given by

a(t) = dv(t)/dt = -ω2Acos(ωt + φ) = -ω2x.

The quantity φ is called the phase constant. It is determined by the initial conditions of
the motion. If at t = 0 the object has its maximum displacement in the positive x-
direction, then φ = 0, if it has its maximum displacement in the negative x-direction, then
φ = π. If at t = 0 the particle is moving through its equilibrium position with maximum
velocity in the negative x-direction then φ = π/2. The quantity ωt + φ is called the phase.

In the figure below position and velocity are plotted as a function of time for oscillatory
motion with a period of 5 s. The amplitude and the maximum velocity have arbitrary
units. Position and velocity are out of phase. The velocity is zero at maximum
displacement, and the displacement is zero at maximum speed.

For simple harmonic motion, the acceleration a = -ω2x is proportional to the

displacement, but in the opposite direction. Simple harmonic motion is accelerated
motion. If an object exhibits simple harmonic motion, a force must be acting on the
object. The force is

F = ma = -mω2x .
It obeys Hooke's law, F = -kx, with k = mω2.

F = ma = md2x/dt2 with F = -kx, leads to the second-order differential equation

d2x/dt2 = -(k/m)x.

We now know how to solve this equation. The solution is

x(t) = Acos(ωt + φ), with ω2 = k/m.

The solution to a second-order differential equation includes two constants of integration.

Here these constants are A and φ. They are determined by the initial conditions of the
problem.

The same equations have the same solutions. Whenever you encounter a differential
equation of the form d2x/dt2 = -b2x, you know that the solution is x(t) = Acos(ωt + φ),
with ω = b.

The force exerted by a spring obeys Hooke's law. Assume that an object is attached to a
spring, which is stretched or compressed. Then the spring exerts a force on the object.
This force is proportional to the displacement of the spring from its equilibrium position
and is in a direction opposite to the displacement.

F = -kx

Assume the spring is stretched a distance A and then released. The object attached to the
spring accelerates.

a = -(k/m)x

It gains speed as it moves towards the equilibrium position because its acceleration is in
the direction of its velocity. When it is at the equilibrium position, the acceleration is
zero, but the object has kinetic energy. It overshoots the equilibrium position and starts
slowing down, because the acceleration is now in a direction opposite to the direction of
its velocity. Neglecting friction, it comes to a stop when the spring is compressed by a
distance A and then accelerates back towards the equilibrium position. It again
overshoots and comes to a stop at the initial position when the spring is stretched a
distance A. The motion repeats. The object oscillates back and forth. It executes simple
harmonic motion. The angular frequency of the motion is

the period is

,
and the frequency is

.
Problems:
A particle oscillates with simple harmonic motion, so that its displacement varies
according to the expression x = (5 cm)cos(2t + π/6) where x is in centimeters and t is in
seconds. At t = 0 find
(a) the displacement of the particle,
(b) its velocity, and
(c) its acceleration.
(d) Find the period and amplitude of the motion.
Solution:
(a) The displacement as a function of time is x(t) = Acos(ωt + φ). Here ω = 2/s, φ
= π/6, and A = 5 cm. The displacement at t = 0 is x(0) = (5 cm)cos(π/6) = 4.33 cm.
(b) The velocity at t = 0 is v(0) = -ω(5 cm)sin(π/6) = -5 cm/s.
(c) The acceleration at t = 0 is a(0) = -ω2(5 cm)cos(π/6) = -17.3 cm/s2.
(d) The period of the motion is T = πs, and the amplitude is 5 cm.
A 20 g particle moves in simple harmonic motion with a frequency of 3
oscillations per second and an amplitude of 5cm.
(a) Through what total distance does the particle move during one cycle of its motion?
(b) What is its maximum speed? Where does that occur?
(c) Find the maximum acceleration of the particle. Where in the motion does the
maximum acceleration occur?
Solution:
(a) The total distance d the particle moves during one cycle is from x = -A to x =
+A and back to x = -A, so d = 4A = 20 cm.
(b) The maximum speed of the particle is
vmax = ωA = 2πfA = 2π 15 cm/s = 0.94 m/s.
The particle has maximum speed when it passes through the equilibrium position.
(c) The maximum acceleration of the particle is
amax = ω2A = (2πf)2A = 17.8 m/s2.
The particle has maximum acceleration at the turning points, where it has maximum
displacement.
A 1kg mass attached to a spring of force constant 25N/m oscillates on a horizontal
frictionless track. At t = 0 the mass is released from rest at x = -3cm, that is the spring is
compressed by 3cm. Neglect the mass of the spring. Find
(a) The period of its motion,
(b) the maximum value of its speed and acceleration, and
(c) the displacement, velocity and acceleration as a function of time.
Solution:
(a) The period is T = 2πSQRT(m/k) = 2πSQRT(1 s2/25) = 1.26 s.
(b) The angular acceleration is ω = SQRT(k/m) = 5/s.
The maximum speed is vmax = ωA = 15 cm/s.
The maximum acceleration of the particle is amax = ω2A = 0.75 m/s2.
x(t) = Acos(ωt + φ) = (3 cm)cos((5/s)t + π) = -(3 cm)cos((5/s)t),
v(t) = -ωAsin(ωt + φ) = (15 cm/s)sin((5/s)t),
a(t) = -ω2Acos(ωt + φ) = (0.75 m/s2)cos((5/s)t).

Assume a mass suspended from a vertical spring of spring constant k. In equilibrium the
spring is stretched a distance x0 = mg/k. If the mass is displaced from equilibrium
position downward and the spring is stretched an additional distance x, then the total
force on the mass is mg - k(x0 + x) = -kx directed towards the equilibrium position. If
the mass is displaced upward by a distance x, then the total force on the mass is mg - k(x0
- x) = kx, directed towards the equilibrium position. The mass will execute simple
harmonic motion. The angular frequency ω = SQRT(k/m) is the same for the mass
oscillating on the spring in a vertical or horizontal position. The equilibrium length of the
spring about which it oscillates is different for the vertical position and the horizontal
position.

Assume an object attached to a spring exhibits simple harmonic motion. Let one end of
the spring be attached to a wall and let the object move horizontally on a frictionless
table.

What is the total energy of the object?

The object's kinetic energy is

K = (1/2)mv2 = (1/2)mω2A2sin2(ωt + φ),

Its potential energy is elastic potential energy. The elastic potential energy stored in a
spring displaced a distance x from its equilibrium position is U=(1/2)kx2. The object's
potential energy therefore is

U = (1/2)kx2 = (1/2)mω2x2 = (1/2)mω2A2cos2(ωt + φ).

The total mechanical energy of the object is

E = K+U = (1/2)mω2A2(sin2(ωt + φ)+cos2(ωt + φ)) = (1/2)mω2A2.

The energy E in the system is proportional to the square of the amplitude.

E = (1/2)kA2.

It is a continuously changing mixture of kinetic energy and potential energy.

For any object executing simple harmonic motion with angular frequency w, the restoring
force F = -mω2x obeys Hooke's law, and therefore is a conservative force. We can define
a potential energy U = (1/2)mω2x 2, and the total energy of the object is given by E =
(1/2)mω2A2.
Problems:
 A particle that hangs from a spring oscillates with an angular frequency of 2 rad/s.
The spring is suspended from the ceiling of an elevator car and hangs motionless (relative
to the car) as the car descends at a constant speed of 1.5 m/s. The car then suddenly
stops. Neglect the mass of the spring.
(a) With what amplitude does the particle oscillate?
(b) What is the equation of motion for the particle? (Choose the upward direction to be
positive.)
Solution:
(a) When traveling in the elevator at constant speed, the total force on the mass is
zero. The force exerted by the spring is equal in magnitude to the gravitational force on
the mass, the spring has the equilibrium length of a vertical spring. When the elevator
suddenly stops, the end of the spring attached to the ceiling stops. The mass, however has
momentum, p = mv, and therefore starts stretching the spring. It moves through the
equilibrium position of the vertical spring with its maximum velocity vmax = 1.5 m/s.
Its velocity as a function of time is v(t) = -ωAsin(ωt + φ).
Since vmax = ωA and ω = 2/s, the amplitude of the amplitude of the oscillations is A =
0.75 m.
(b) The equation of motion for the particle is d2x/dt2 = -(k/m)x = -ω2x. Its
solution is
x(t) = Acos(ωt + φ) = 0.75 mcos((2/s)t + φ).
If we choose the t = 0 to be the time the elevator stops and let the upward direction be
positive, then x(0) = 0, and v(0) = -1.5 m/s. We therefore need φ to be π/2.
A mass-spring system oscillates with an amplitude of 3.5 cm. If the force
constant of the spring of 250 N/m and the mass is 0.5 kg, determine
(a) the mechanical energy of the system,
(b) the maximum speed of the mass, and
(c) the maximum acceleration .
Solution:
(a) We have m = 0.5 kg, A = 0.035 m, k = 250 N/m, ω2 = k/m = 500/s2, ω =
22.36/s.
The mechanical energy of the system is E = (1/2)kA2 = 0.153 J.
(b) The maximum speed of the mass is vmax = ωA = 0.78 m/s.
(c) The maximum acceleration is amax = ω2A = 17.5 m/s2.