Simple Harmonic Motion

and Uniform Circular Motion

 A ball is attached to the
rim of a turntable of
radius A
 The focus is on the
shadow that the ball
casts on the screen
 When the turntable
rotates with a constant
angular speed, the
shadow moves in simple
harmonic motion
 View Animation
Recall circular motion from
PHF02
2πr
 Velocity of object in circular motionv =
is:
T
 In this case our r is the amplitude A which
leads to the max. velocity:2πA
vmax =
T
 Then the max acceleration must be the
4π 2 A
circular motion acceleration:
a=
T2
 Remember the acceleration is always
directed to the center, so incase of the
shadow, it is directed towards the
equilibrium point.
 4π 2 x
 a=− 2
For SHM we can say:
T
 Negative because a always acts
opposite the displacement.
 Combining the equation for the spring-
mass system we obtain:
4π 2 x k
a=− 2
=− x
T m
m
T = 2π
k
Effective Spring Mass
 A graph of T2 versus m does not
pass through the origin
 The spring has mass and oscillates
 For a cylindrical spring, the
effective additional mass of a light
spring is 1/3 the mass of the spring
Frequency and Angular
frequency
1
f =
T
1 k
f =
2π m
and ω = 2πf
k
ω=
m

Study example 4.3 in course book.

Motion as a Function of
Time
 Use of a reference
circle allows a
description of the
motion
 x = A cos (2πƒt)
 x is the position at
time t
 x varies between
+A and -A
View Animation
Example 1
a) Find the amplitude, frequency, and
period of motion for an object
vibrating at the end of a horizontal
spring if the equation for its position
as a function of time is:
 π 
x = 0.250 cos t
 8.00 
a) done

c) Find the maximum magnitude of

the velocity and acceleration.
d) What is the position, velocity and
acceleration of the object after
1.00s has elapsed?
Simple Pendulum
 The simple x
pendulum is
another example
of simple
harmonic motion
 The force is the
component of the
weight tangent to
the path of
motion
 Ft = - m g sin θ
 a.k.a. restoring
 Using Newton's second law:
 F = m a = - m g sin θ
 Assumption: θ is small < 15o then;
 sin θ ~
~ tan θ = x/L
 x
ma = −mg
L
x  4π 2 x 
a = −g 
 recall : a = − T 2  
L  
4π 2 x x
a =− 2
= −g
T L
L
T = 2π View Animation
g
Quiz!!
 A pendulum clock depends on the period of a
pendulum to keep correct time. Suppose a
pendulum clock is keeping correct time and
then a naughty PHF03 student slides the bob
of the pendulum downward on the oscillating
rod. Does the clock run:
b) Slow,
c) Fast or
d) Correctly?

Study example 4.5 in your course book

Damped Oscillation
 Only ideal systems oscillate
indefinitely
 In real systems, friction retards the
motion
 Friction reduces the total energy of
the system and the oscillation is
said to be damped
 One application is the use of shock
absorbers in motor vehicles
Summary