5.3: Simple Harmonic Motion- A Special Periodic Motion

Learning Objectives

• Describe a simple harmonic oscillator.
• Explain the link between simple harmonic motion and waves.

The oscillations of a system in which the net force can be described by Hooke’s law are of special importance, because they are very common. They are also the simplest oscillatory systems. Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) is the name given to oscillatory motion for a system where the net force can be described by Hooke’s law, and such a system is called a simple harmonic oscillator. If the net force can be described by Hooke’s law and there is no damping (by friction or other non-conservative forces), then a simple harmonic oscillator will oscillate with equal displacement on either side of the equilibrium position, as shown for an object on a spring in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\). The maximum displacement from equilibrium is called the amplitude \(X\). The units for amplitude and displacement are the same, but depend on the type of oscillation. For the object on the spring, the units of amplitude and displacement are meters; whereas for sound oscillations, they have units of pressure (and other types of oscillations have yet other units). Because amplitude is the maximum displacement, it is related to the energy in the oscillation.

TAKE-HOME EXPERIMENT: SHM AND THE MARBLE

Find a bowl or basin that is shaped like a hemisphere on the inside. Place a marble inside the bowl and tilt the bowl periodically so the marble rolls from the bottom of the bowl to equally high points on the sides of the bowl. Get a feel for the force required to maintain this periodic motion. What is the restoring force and what role does the force you apply play in the simple harmonic motion (SHM) of the marble?

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): An object attached to a spring sliding on a frictionless surface is an uncomplicated simple harmonic oscillator. When displaced from equilibrium, the object performs simple harmonic motion that has an amplitude \(X\) and a period \(T\). The object’s maximum speed occurs as it passes through equilibrium. The stiffer the spring is, the smaller the period \(T\). The greater the mass of the object is, the greater the period \(T\).

What is so significant about simple harmonic motion? One special thing is that the period \(T\) and frequency \(f\) of a simple harmonic oscillator are independent of amplitude. The string of a guitar, for example, will oscillate with the same frequency whether plucked gently or hard. Because the period is constant, a simple harmonic oscillator can be used as a clock.

Two important factors do affect the period of a simple harmonic oscillator. The period is related to how stiff the system is. A very stiff object has a large spring constant \(k\), which causes the system to have a smaller period. For example, you can adjust a diving board’s stiffness—the stiffer it is, the faster it vibrates, and the shorter its period. Period also depends on the mass of the oscillating system. The more massive the system is, the longer the period. For example, a heavy person on a diving board bounces up and down more slowly than a light one.

In fact, the mass \(m\) and the spring constant \(k\) are the only factors that affect the period and frequency of simple harmonic motion of a mass on a spring.

PERIOD OF SIMPLE HARMONIC OSCILLATOR

The period of a simple harmonic oscillator is given by

\[T=2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}} \nonumber \]

and, because \(f=1 / T\), the frequency of a simple harmonic oscillator is

\[f=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}. \nonumber \]

Note that neither \(T\) nor \(f\) has any dependence on amplitude.

TAKE-HOME EXPERIMENT: MASS AND RULER OSCILLATIONS

Find two identical wooden or plastic rulers. Tape one end of each ruler firmly to the edge of a table so that the length of each ruler that protrudes from the table is the same. On the free end of one ruler tape a heavy object such as a few large coins. Pluck the ends of the rulers at the same time and observe which one undergoes more cycles in a time period, and measure the period of oscillation of each of the rulers.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): Calculate the Frequency and Period of Oscillations: Bad Shock Absorbers in a Car

If the shock absorbers in a car go bad, then the car will oscillate at the least provocation, such as when going over bumps in the road and after stopping (See Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)). Calculate the frequency and period of these oscillations for such a car if the car’s mass (including its load) is 900 kg and the spring constant (\(k\)) of the suspension system is \(6.53 \times 10^{4} \mathrm{~N} / \mathrm{m}\).

Strategy

The frequency of the car’s oscillations will be that of a simple harmonic oscillator as given in the equation \(f=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\). The mass and the spring constant are both given.

Solution

1. Enter the known values of k and m:

   \[f=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{6.53 \times 10^{4} \mathrm{~N} / \mathrm{m}}{900 \mathrm{~kg}}}. \nonumber\]

2. Calculate the frequency:

   \[\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{72.6 / \mathrm{s}^{-2}}=1.3656 / \mathrm{s}^{-1} \approx 1.36 / \mathrm{s}^{-1}=1.36 \mathrm{~Hz}. \nonumber\]

3. You could use \(T=2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}\) to calculate the period, but it is simpler to use the relationship \(T=1 / f\) and substitute the value just found for \(f\):

   \[T=\frac{1}{f}=\frac{1}{1.356 \mathrm{~Hz}}=0.738 \mathrm{~s}. \nonumber\]

Discussion

The values of \(T\) and \(f\) both seem about right for a bouncing car. You can observe these oscillations if you push down hard on the end of a car and let go.

The Link between Simple Harmonic Motion and Waves

If a time-exposure photograph of the bouncing car were taken as it drove by, the headlight would make a wavelike streak, as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\). Similarly, Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\) shows an object bouncing on a spring as it leaves a wavelike "trace of its position on a moving strip of paper. Both waves are sine functions. All simple harmonic motion is intimately related to sine and cosine waves.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): The bouncing car makes a wavelike motion. If the restoring force in the suspension system can be described only by Hooke’s law, then the wave is a sine function. (The wave is the trace produced by the headlight as the car moves to the right.)

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): The vertical position of an object bouncing on a spring is recorded on a strip of moving paper, leaving a sine wave.

The displacement \(x(t)\), the velocity \(v(t)\), and the acceleration \(a(t)\) of simple harmonic motion sketches out sinusoidal functions as a function of time. That is, if you sketch out \(\sin (t)\) and \(\cos (t)\), with tt in seconds, for example, what you graph will appear similar to the actual graphs of \(x(t)\),\(v(t)\), and \(a(t)\). You just need to scale them horizontally and vertically, so that they have correct period and amplitude, respectively.

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\) shows the simple harmonic motion of an object on a spring and presents graphs of \(x(t)\),\(v(t)\), and \(a(t)\) versus time.

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Graphs of \(x(t)\),\(v(t)\), and \(a(t)\) versus \(t\) for the motion of an object on a spring. The net force on the object can be described by Hooke’s law, and so the object undergoes simple harmonic motion. Note that the initial position has the vertical displacement at its maximum value \(X\); \(v\) is initially zero and then negative as the object moves down; and the initial acceleration is negative, back toward the equilibrium position and becomes zero at that point.

The most important point here is that these relationships are valid for all simple harmonic motion. They are very useful in visualizing waves associated with simple harmonic motion, including visualizing how waves add with one another.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Suppose you pluck a banjo string. You hear a single note that starts out loud and slowly quiets over time. Describe what happens to the sound waves in terms of period, frequency and amplitude as the sound decreases in volume.

Answer

Frequency and period remain essentially unchanged. Only amplitude decreases as volume decreases.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

A babysitter is pushing a child on a swing. At the point where the swing reaches \(x\), where would the corresponding point on a wave of this motion be located?

Answer

\(x\) is the maximum deformation, which corresponds to the amplitude of the wave. The point on the wave would either be at the very top or the very bottom of the curve.

Section Summary

• Simple harmonic motion is oscillatory motion for a system that can be described only by Hooke’s law. Such a system is also called a simple harmonic oscillator.
• Maximum displacement is the amplitude \(X\). The period \(T\) and frequency \(f\) of a simple harmonic oscillator are given by

  \(T=2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}} \text { and } f=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\), where \(m\) is the mass of the system.

• Displacement, velocity, and acceleration in simple harmonic motion as a function of time are represented by sinusoidal functions in time, that is functions that are similar to \(\sin (t)\) and \(\cos (t)\).

Glossary

amplitude

the maximum displacement from the equilibrium position of an object oscillating around the equilibrium position

simple harmonic motion

the oscillatory motion in a system where the net force can be described by Hooke’s law

simple harmonic oscillator

a device that implements Hooke’s law, such as a mass that is attached to a spring, with the other end of the spring being connected to a rigid support such as a wall