Physics Lesson 10.1.3 - Conditions for the Existence of Simple Harmonic Motion

Please provide a rating, it takes seconds and helps us to keep this resource free for all to use

Welcome to our Physics lesson on Conditions for the Existence of Simple Harmonic Motion, this is the third lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of Simple Harmonic Motion, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Conditions for the Existence of Simple Harmonic Motion

There are two conditions for a periodic motion to be considered as SHM. They are:

1. In system there should be an elastic restoring force F. If the system is disturbed away from the equilibrium, the restoring force will tend to bring the system back towards equilibrium position which is at the centre of the oscillation. This restoring force can be either of the known forces, such as gravitational, elastic, electrostatic, magnetic force etc. Restoring force is proportional in magnitude and opposite in sign with the displacement.
2. The acceleration of the system should be directly proportional to the displacement and it is always directed towards the equilibrium position.

(Displacement here must be understood as a shift from the equilibrium position).

You have reached the end of Physics lesson 10.1.3 Conditions for the Existence of Simple Harmonic Motion. There are 6 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Simple Harmonic Motion, you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

More Simple Harmonic Motion Lessons and Learning Resources

Whats next?

Enjoy the "Conditions for the Existence of Simple Harmonic Motion" physics lesson? People who liked the "Simple Harmonic Motion lesson found the following resources useful:

1. Conditions Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this conditions (see below)
2. Oscillations Physics tutorial: Simple Harmonic Motion. Read the Simple Harmonic Motion physics tutorial and build your physics knowledge of Oscillations
3. Oscillations Revision Notes: Simple Harmonic Motion. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for Simple Harmonic Motion
4. Oscillations Practice Questions: Simple Harmonic Motion. Test and improve your knowledge of Simple Harmonic Motion with example questins and answers
5. Check your calculations for Oscillations questions with our excellent Oscillations calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Oscillations Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
6. Continuing learning oscillations - read our next physics tutorial: Pendulums. Energy in Simple Harmonic Motion

Help others Learning Physics just like you

Please provide a rating, it takes seconds and helps us to keep this resource free for all to use

We hope you found this Physics lesson "Simple Harmonic Motion" useful. If you did it would be great if you could spare the time to rate this physics lesson (simply click on the number of stars that match your assessment of this physics learning aide) and/or share on social media, this helps us identify popular tutorials and calculators and expand our free learning resources to support our users around the world have free access to expand their knowledge of physics and other disciplines.

Oscillations Calculators by iCalculator™

• Energy In Shm Calculator
• Kinematics Of Angular Shm Calculator
• Kinematics Of Linear Shm Calculator
• Period Of Oscillations In A Shm Calculator
• Restoring Force In Shm Calculator