1-4 Simple Harmonic Motion

Imagine a clock pendulum swinging back and forth.

You can also find this visual here: Clock Pendulum Video

The pendulum is said to have simple harmonic motion because it has the following characteristics:

1- The motion takes place symmetrically about an equilibrium position.

2- The motion repeats itself over a definite time interval (called the period).

3- The speed of the oscillator varies throughout the cycle.

The behavior of the force is found with the following formula:

    f=-ky

Where k is the constant which measures the difference it is to displace the oscillator and y is the displacement from the equilibrium.

The negative exists because the force and displacement from the equilibrium are acting in opposite directions against each other.

Simple harmonic motion can also exist within a slinky.

This can be seen here: Slinky to Snakey

Simple Harmonic Motion is the origin of music because simple harmonic motion is the source of all simple pure tones which are combined together to form music.

Practice Problems:

1. A force of 16N is required to stretch a spring a distance of 40 cm from its rest position. What force (in Newtons) is required to stretch the same spring?

(a) ...twice the distance?

(b) ...three times the distance?

(c)... one-half the distance?

Answer: 1-4: 1 SEE ANSWER

Continue: #REDIRECT 1-5 Oscillations

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