Chapter 10 Simple harmonic motion

NCEA Level 3 Physics material covered in this chapter is for Achievement Standard 90521 (Physics 3.4) Demonstrate understanding of mechanical systems by: Giving concise explanations that show clear understanding of the phenomena, concepts and principles relating to simple harmonic motion (displacement; velocity; acceleration; time and frequency of a particle undergoing SHM; forced SHM; resonance; the reference circle; phasors; conservation of energy). Solving problems using the relationships d = r, v = r, = 2f, f = 1 , F = ky,
1 2

EP = ky , EP = mgh, EK = mv , T = 2
2
1 2

T l m , T = 2 , y = A sin t, v = A cos t, g k

a = A2 sin t, y = A cos t, v = A sin t, a = A2 cos t, a = 2y

Oscillatory motion
Many kinds of motion are oscillating or periodic (ie they repeat over and over again in regular cycles).

Example
The rotation of the Earth on its axis; the rise and fall of tides in the ocean; the vibration of a guitar string; and the regular beating of the human heart; are all periodic.

Two important quantities describing any periodic motion are the frequency and period: Frequency (symbol f ) is the number of times the motion repeats itself in one second. The SI unit for frequency is hertz (Hz). 1 Hz = 1 s1. Period (symbol T) is the time taken for one complete cycle of the periodic motion. The SI unit for period is the second (s). The period and frequency are reciprocals of each other.

SA

1 T= f

1 and f = T

TE

XT

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LE

Example
During exercise, a runners heart beats 60 times in 20 seconds. Later, while resting, her heart beats 36 times in 30 seconds. Calculate the frequency and period: a. During exercise. b. At rest. Solution a. 60 beats in 20 seconds 1 T= 1= = 0.33 s 60 beats per second = 3.0 Hz 20

3.0 f 36 b. 36 beats in 30 seconds beats per second = 1.2 Hz 30 1 1 = 0.83 s T= = f 1.2

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Simple harmonic motion

One common type of periodic motion is called Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM). In SHM, an object moves back and forth regularly over the same path.
The pendulum Mass on a spring Torsional oscillation

Fig. 10.1: Examples of SHM.

In SHM, the middle of the path of motion is called the equilibrium position. When the object is oscillating, the greatest distance it moves from the equilibrium position is called the amplitude of the motion (symbol A).

Example
A model hydrometer can be made from a weighted metre rule. The level of liquid on the scale is a way to measure the density of the liquid. The diagram shows the model hydrometer bobbing up and down in a swimming pool. Highest position
0

50 87 100

Lowest position 0
23 50

0 Position when floating at rest 55 cm

100

100 Calculate the amplitude of the motion. Solution The equilibrium position is at the rest position, ie at 55 cm. The amplitude of the motion A = 32 cm since 87 55 = 32 cm and 55 23 = 32 cm

SA TE

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The Importance of SHM

SHM is of great interest to physicists because it can be used to predict what will happen in many different kinds of repeated motions. Many types of wave motion (including sound waves, seismic waves and water waves), involve particles moving with SHM. The vibrations of molecules in the gases of the atmosphere involve SHM. The movement of electrons in many electric circuits is a form of SHM. In addition, other forms of periodic motion can be described by the superposition (or addition) of several SHMs.
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The essential features of SHM

What makes SHM different from some other forms of repeated motion is the way the force (and therefore the acceleration) changes during each cycle. In SHM, there is a restoring force which always acts toward the equilibrium position, no matter where the object is. The further the object moves from equilibrium, the greater the force becomes. At the equilibrium position the resultant force is zero. So, if an object is moving with SHM the following two conditions must apply: The acceleration (symbol a) of the object is directly proportional to the displacement (symbol y) from the equilibrium position. The acceleration is always directed toward the equilibrium position. These conditions can be written as:

SA

a = (a positive constant) y

TE

The formula shows that a y, ie acceleration is proportional to displacement. The negative sign shows that the acceleration is toward the equilibrium position, since: If y is positive, the acceleration will be in the negative direction. If y is negative, the acceleration will be in the positive direction. A common example of SHM is a mass bouncing on the end of a spring.
If the mass were allowed to hang stationary on the end of the spring, it would be in the position shown in the middle diagram. In this position, the downward gravity force is balanced by the upward force of the spring and so the mass is in equilibrium (Fnet = 0).

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MP

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y F When the displacement y is positive (mass above its equilibrium position), the spring is y a compressed, and so, regardless of whether the Equilibrium position mass is moving up or down, will always be F pushing down on the mass. The force and the acceleration are in the same direction and so the acceleration will always be downward. The greater the displacement, the greater the compression and so the greater the force.

When the displacement y is negative (mass below its equilibrium position), the spring is extended and so will always be pulling up on the mass. The force and the acceleration will therefore be upward. The greater the displacement, the greater the extension and so the greater the force. The force and acceleration are always toward the equilibrium position. The size of the force is always proportional to the size of the displacement (F = ky).

Fig. 10.2: Mass bouncing downward on the end of a spring.

The way the force changes during each cycle means that the velocity and acceleration of a mass moving with SHM have particular positions. At equilibrium position the mass has: Zero acceleration. Maximum speed. At each end position the mass has: Maximum acceleration (always towards the equiilibrium position). Zero speed.

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Simple harmonic motion

Activity 10A: Simple harmonic motion

1. The rise and fall of the tide in a harbour is approximately SHM. At low tide the depth of water is 5.0 m, while at high tide 6 hours later the water is 8.0 m deep. a. What is the period of this SHM? b. What is the amplitude of the SHM? c. One day low tide is at midnight. i. At what time will the tide be rising at its greatest rate? ii. At what rate will the tide be moving at midday? d. How many times in the next 24 hours is the water 7 m deep? 2. A pendulum swings in front of a metre rule. The mass is released from the 24 cm mark and takes 0.40 s to move to 86 cm before swinging back. a. What is the amplitude of the swing? b. What total distance along the rule does the mass travel in one complete cycle? c. What is the equilibrium position on the metre rule? d. Give the period of the pendulum. 24 cm 86 cm e. What is the frequency of the motion? f. Describe the size and direction of the acceleration of the pendulum at the 86 cm mark. g. Describe the size and direction of the velocity of the pendulum at the 86 cm mark. h. At what position will there be no resultant force on the pendulum? 3. The following are examples of childrens activities. A Mary bounces a basketball up and down. B Philip moves back and forth on a swing. C Anne sits on a see-saw as it moves up and down. D Luke bounces up and down on a baby seat attached to a spring. a. State which ones are not an approximation of SHM. b. For each example that is not an approximation of SHM, explain why it cannot be SHM. F = 0.80 N 4. A ball-bearing performs SHM by rolling back and forth on a slightly curved track. y The amplitude of the motion is 10 cm, and 10 cm 0 +10 cm the resultant force on the ball is 0.80 N at position +5.0 cm. a. What is the position of the ball when: i. The maximum unbalanced force acts. ii. The ball has maximum acceleration. iii. Zero unbalanced force acts. iv. The ball has zero speed. b. What is the size and direction of the force at position 10 cm?

AC

SA

TIV LE ITY

MP

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Activity 10A: Simple harmonic motion

1. a. c. d. 2. a. e. g. 3. a. b. 12 hours (A) b. 1.5 m (A) i. 3 am (A) ii. Zero. (A) 4 times. (M) 31 cm (A) b. 124 cm (A) c. 55 cm (A) d. 0.80 s (A) 1.3 Hz (A) f. Maximum to the left. (A) SA Zero velocity and so no direction. (M) h. Central position. (M) M A and C. (A) NC PLE A all the time while the basketball is in free fall its acceleration is downwards EA AN and so is not at all times directed towards the centre of the motion or the middle SW of the path is not a position of equilibrium because at this position there is a net ER S force (gravity) acting on the ball. (M) C the acceleration depends on how the children on each end of the see-saw push against the ground and so will not be proportional to the displacement. (E) 4. a. i. At either 10 cm or +10 cm. (A) ii. At either 10 cm or +10 cm. (A) iii. At the 0 cm mark. (A) iv. At either 10 cm or +10 cm. (A) b. 1.6 N (M)

Glossary/Index
absolute permittivity of free space (0) (222): a constant in the capacitor construction formula. absolute uncertainty (1): uncertainty expressed in the same units as the measurement. absorption spectrum (180): atomic line spectra obtained by passing white light through a sample of a gas. amplitude (146): greatest distance an object moves from the equilibrium position. angular acceleration (125): rate of change of angular velocity. angular displacement (123): angle turned through by a rotating object. angular frequency (symbol, ) (151): frequency expressed in radians per second.

SA GL MP angular velocity (124): rate of change of angular displacement. OS LE SA antinodal lines (49): parts of an interference pattern where constructive interference takes RY place.
angular momentum (135): quantity equal to the rotational inertia multiplied by the angular velocity. antinodes (symbol A) (60): parts of a standing wave which have the maximum amplitude. atomic line spectrum (180): spectrum showing the particular colours of light emitted or absorbed by the atoms of an element. atomic number (191): number of protons in a nucleus.
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