Physics Lesson 10.1.1 - What is Simple Harmonic Motion?

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Welcome to our Physics lesson on What is Simple Harmonic Motion?, this is the first 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.

What is Simple Harmonic Motion?

By definition, "Simple harmonic motion (in short SHM) is a repetitive movement back and forth through an equilibrium (or central) position, so that the maximum displacement on one side of this position is equal to the maximum displacement on the other side."

In other words, in simple harmonic motion the object moves back and forth along a line. These back and forth movements are known as "oscillations". Simple harmonic motion is part of a wider category of motion known as "periodic motion", which includes other types of motions that repeat themselves such as circular, vibrational and other similar motions. However, simple harmonic motion and periodic motion are not the same thing. There are two main differences between them.

1. In periodic motion, the object's displacement may or may not be in the direction of the restoring force (remember the concept of restoring force explained in Physics tutorial "Types of Forces III. Elastic Force and Tension", in which elastic force was a kind of restoring force because it tries to send the object back to the original position). As an example of periodic motion but not SHM we can mention the circular motion, in which the centripetal force - which is a kind of restoring force - is perpendicular to the object's motion as centripetal force is directed towards the centre of curvature while displacement is according the tangent to the circle. On the other hand, in simple harmonic motion, the object's displacement is always in the opposite direction of the restoring force.
2. In periodic motion, the movement may or may not be oscillatory. For example, we can move along the perimeter of a square several times, but this motion is not oscillatory as it is not back and forth but only forth. On the other hand, in simple harmonic motion the movement is only oscillatory.

You have reached the end of Physics lesson 10.1.1 What is 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.

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Enjoy the "What is Simple Harmonic Motion?" physics lesson? People who liked the "Simple Harmonic Motion lesson found the following resources useful:

1. Definition Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this definition (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

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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