simple harmonic motion

Motions {simple harmonic motion}| can oscillate along lines, with acceleration proportional to distance from center point. Molecule-bond vibrations, springs, pendulums, rigid-bar vibrations, rotations, guitar-string vibrations, bridge vibrations, and tall-building sway have simple harmonic motion.

force

Restoring-force strength depends on material type and distance from center. For molecule bonds, spring constant depends on electrical forces between atoms. Restoring force F equals negative of spring constant k expressing restoring force strength times displacement x: F = -k*x. Restoring force is negative because it opposes displacement.

amplitude

Amplitude depends on input energy, which causes more or less displacement.

period

One oscillation takes one time period. Period depends on material restoring force. Period and amplitude are independent. Spring period T is 360 degrees expressed in radians 2*pi times square root of mass m divided by spring constant k: T = 2 * pi * (m/k)^0.5. Higher mass makes longer period. Higher spring constant makes shorter period.

energy

Potential energy PE equals half spring constant k times displacement x squared, which is average force, k*x/2, times distance x: PE = 0.5 * k * x^2. At center, force equals zero, and potential energy equals zero. At maximum displacement amplitude, force and potential energy are highest. At maximum displacement, kinetic energy equals zero, because motion stops as direction reverses. At center, velocity and kinetic energy maximize, because potential energy is zero.

velocity

Maximum velocity v is maximum displacement A times square root of spring constant k divided by object mass m: v = A * (k/m)^0.5. Average velocity is 4*A/T, where A is amplitude and T is period. Average velocity is 2 * v / pi, where v is maximum velocity.

friction

If friction damps simple harmonic motion, amplitude decreases, but frequency stays the same, because material is the same.

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Physical Sciences>Physics>Dynamics>Force>Kinds>Restoring

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Date Modified: 2022.0224